Have your say on Middleport regeneration
10 March 2010
Members of the community are being invited to have their say on the latest phase of redevelopment work in Middleport.
The houses in Port Street, Travers Street, Harper Street and Burgess Street, close to the historic Middleport Pottery, are earmarked for regeneration activity and local residents are being urged to air their views on the plans at special meetings over the next week.
Proposed development activity in the RENEW Area of Major Intervention (AMI) includes heritage refurbishment and two-into-one redevelopment of more than 40 homes in Port Street. remodelling of properties in Travers Street is also proposed, with eventual replacement by high-spec new homes.
Community and environmental improvements to enhance the appearance of the local area are also in the pipeline.
The plans have been drawn up following almost 12 months of consultation and ‘master planning’ with local residents, and this week’s meetings mark the next important phase of discussion.
Coun Brian Ward, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for regeneration said: “Our ambition is to make this area of Middleport a place with a future – where people want to stay, bring up their families and have an excellent quality of life.
“We have consulted with residents every step of the way and are continuing to do so – ensuring that we deliver quality housing of choice which residents really embrace.
“I would urge local people to come along, have their say and grasp this exciting opportunity to influence how their community is shaped.”
Tentative timescales for regeneration have been put forward, pending consultation with local residents. Heritage refurbishment and redevelopment of homes in Port Street is expected to be the first project later this year; two-into-one work may begin in 2011/12.
The attractive regeneration of the area is then expected to attract private sector development partners to build new properties in Travers Street from 2013 onwards.
Plans and examples of similar heritage redevelopment will be on display at the consultation events which are at:
- Middleport Medical Centre, Newport Lane, Thursday March 11th, 2-7pm
- Middleport Park Bowling Club, Newport Lane, Saturday March 13th, 10am-2pm
- Middleport Medical Centre, Newport Lane, Monday 15th 2-7pm
The next step will be for a ‘development brief’ to be written by April this year, taking into account feedback from the consultation process.
The development brief is a document which sets out clear guidelines about the quality of housing and local environment, what materials will be acceptable and any important features that must be incorporated into the new development. The brief also ensures that any private sector development also meets the high class standards and aspirations for the area.
The results of the development brief will be shared with the local community on completion.
