New City Waterside site plans a step closer
03 December 2009
The next phase in the regeneration of Stoke-on-Trent’s City Waterside area is set to be approved next week (beginning 7 December), when the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the housing market renewal pathfinder RENEW North Staffordshire confirm nearly £6 million investment in a flagship development.
HCA board member Kate Barker is to visit North Staffordshire on 7 December to announce £2.9m funding. On 9 December Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve matching £2.9m funding from RENEW.
The funding of nearly £6m will be used for land assembly, land remediation and key highways and services infrastructure works for a new mixed-use development, preparing the way for 250 new homes and a new state-of-the-art factory for Bridgewater Pottery.
An outline planning application is currently being considered by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Subject to the necessary approvals, consultants will be appointed by the year end to oversee the infrastructure and remediation work. The work is due to start in early 2010, completing in early 2011. The ongoing development of the site, including initial residential phases, is then anticipated from Spring 2011.
Production at Bridgewater Pottery, one of the most successful potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, will relocate to a purpose-built building including visitor centre on one part of the site, while the former potteries will be renovated and redeveloped for residential and leisure use, capitalising on their heritage and canalside location. They form part of a 4.5 hectare site which is close to the city centre and immediately to the north of the new City Waterside school and Bridgewater Bridge, which opened in 2008 and April 2009 respectively.
Designed by Nord architects, the area will include around 250 homes, of which 25 per cent will be affordable, together with 5,576 sq m (60,000 sq ft) of commercial space. The vision includes canalside cafes, restaurants, shops and potentially an art gallery. Sustainability plays a major role, with the inclusion of a Sustainable Urban Drainage system (SUDS), which will act as a water feature while also capturing residual energy from the manufacturing process for use across the remainder of the development.
Kate Barker, an HCA Board Member and originally from Stoke-on-Trent, will visit the site on 7 December to announce the agency’s investment. She commented: “This is a superb scheme bringing new life to some of the old pottery and warehouse buildings and maximising use of cleared land. We are hoping to use the Government’s Public Land Initiative in procuring developers for the scheme, which will speed up the process and encourage private sector involvement.”
Brian Ward, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The new housing and replacement Bridgewater factory will show how we can design top quality new housing alongside modern industry to help create a vibrant and thriving community.
“Development has slowed during the recession, but we are determined to prepare the way for the upturn by putting in place the infrastructure for new housing and insisting on the highest quality designs.
“By working together with the Homes and Communities Agency we will develop a scheme that will be a flagship development for City Waterside and Stoke-on-Trent.”
For pictures of Kate Barker's visit to the City Waterside click here
