Council leaders to back development of a fresh, new vision for the city centre

An exciting piece of work to develop a ten to fifteen-year plan for Hanley as the city centre is set to get underway.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council feels a fresh strategy is required that combines a radical but deliverable change in approach to development in the city centre which will lead to long-term transformation.

An expert team is set to be procured to develop the plan, with the council continuing to work closely with partners such as Homes England and other key national and local partners to oversee its production. This will include extensive public engagement to seek views on the future of our City Centre

The plan will compromise of an evidence-based model for future development including:

• definition of the geography of the city centre area and relationship to other towns
• the future strategy for retail, office, leisure and cultural sectors
• residential opportunities, scale and potential tenure mix
• infrastructure requirements, including transport, parking and digital, all in the context of climate change ambitions
• re-use of heritage buildings and a widening of cultural and events opportunities available, building up the day-time and evening offer
• a public realm plan and management model, building on the success of the Business Improvement District

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for Transport, Infrastructure and Regeneration said: “We want to develop a viable proposal for the long-term renewal of the city centre and create a fresh vision. We foresee a significant increase in the number of people living in and near the city centre. We want to develop a viable mix of uses in which retail still has its place but alongside a wider range of things to do and see. 

“The growth of both ‘out of town’ and online shopping along with the recent pandemic has had a negative impact on retail and business uses, leading to increases in vacancy rates, something we know if happening up and down the country. Despite the best efforts of the council, the Business Improvement District (BID) and committed long-term developers, the city centre is not fulfilling its role as our main city centre and this plan aims to turn that around by taking a very different approach. We don’t want to see another lost decade for our city centre, we want to deliver real regeneration and this work is vital to doing that.

“What is crucially important is that in the next few months we hear from as many local voices as possible – residents and businesses – everyone who has a stake in our city centre. We want to know what people want to see included in the fresh plan.”

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet will discuss the production of a new City Centre Plan at its meeting on July 30. Cabinet will be recommended to approve an indicative programme for the work which will see a final report ready for review in April 2025.

In the meantime, work will be progressing on existing projects such as Etruscan Square and improving the route from Stoke Station to the city centre.