Major plans which show how Stoke-on-Trent is leading the way on 'Levelling Up' have been highlighted on the world stage.
International developers taking part in MIPIM heard how substantial progress is being made on a handful of major projects which aim to redevelop key areas in the city.
According to StokeonTrentLive, the five projects are expected to cost a combined £182 million. This includes the £56 million government funding Stoke-on-Trent City Council secured last year.
Developers and investors at the global real estate conference were told about the city council's plans for:
- Etruscan Square in Hanley - including a 3,600-capacity arena, commercial space, homes, a car park a 138-bedroom hotel;
- The development of the Goods Yard next to Stoke Station - to transform a 1.24-acre site into office, leisure and commercial space, apartments and a 150-bed hotel;
- The further transformation of the Spode Works site in Stoke - including proposals to develop residential units, commercial and large-scale community space on the former pottery site;
- The Crown Works in Longton - proposals for 75 homes over an acre of land to regenerate the town;
- And the proposed investment in the Grade II-listed Tunstall Library and Pool - to support 34 apartments, seven family homes and more than 2,000 sq ft of community space.
Council leader Abi Brown said: "Our Levelling Up projects already have huge momentum behind them and significant, tangible progress is being made to deliver them. We're confident that we have the right opportunities, and the right mix of developments that can make the biggest difference to our city and are attractive schemes for development.
"We're backed by the biggest allocation in Levelling Up funding for a specific city in the country, we've tested out our proposals to major national investors in London, and now we're telling global brands, major UK-based international companies and key national agencies what we are delivering in Stoke-on-Trent - and how they can be a part of our success story.
"These are the biggest development opportunities in our city in a generation and bring with them huge benefits to our towns and communities."
Councillor Brown and deputy council leader Daniel Jellyman, along with three senior officers, are attending more than 30 meetings with national developers, international investors, government agencies, UK city regions investors and European cities.
They will also meet senior leaders from Homes England and Historic England at the four-day conference.
Councillor Brown said: "This is the first time the event has run for three years, and it comes as we have the biggest story to tell in Stoke-on-Trent for decades.
"Meetings and conversations borne out of attending this event in previous years have reaped huge benefits for our city. It is a unique opportunity to meet a host of major organisations in one location.
"Conversations that I have led in previous years have led to national house builders coming to build new homes for city residents, as well as the opportunity to develop strong relationships with national organisations such as Historic England – a relationship which has seen the city granted Heritage Action Zone status, with millions of pounds of investment to support historic town centre buildings particularly in Longton and Stoke.
"Confidence in our city continues to grow – I launched the idea to transform the Goods Yard in 2017, an idea that turned into a development opportunity by 2018, we met with developers at MIPIM in 2019, announced a partnership in 2020 and secured Levelling Up funding for the site late last year. Now we are set to be on site in 2022, starting to deliver a major scheme that will transform a key site next to Stoke Station and the canal."
Councillor Brown added: "Development like this doesn't happen overnight. These are multi-million pound programmes that take a huge amount of planning, creativity and a deep understanding of the right 'fit' of opportunities that are in the best interests of our residents and businesses and are attractive to developers.
"The fact that we have progressed so quickly, especially during a pandemic that halted many developments globally, shows that our plans are right, and the future is tremendously exciting.
"It's a huge source of pride for our city that we are in such a strong position with these projects, that we have a clear plan that we are delivering, backed by major investment from government, and can offer such fantastic opportunities that will support our towns and city, and reap benefits for residents and businesses for generations to come."
