Stoke central business district plans submitted
Outline plans for a multi-million pound mixed-use development in Stoke-on-Trent have finally been submitted.
The Central Business District regeneration project is an office led scheme that will transform a brown-field site in the centre of Stoke. When complete, the £180m development scheme will offer 750,000 sq ft of Grade A office floor space along with retail and residential accommodation, a hotel and new public spaces.
The developers Genr8 Developments, who were chosen as preferred developers in March 2009, have conducted a series of public consultations and have now submitted their outline plans for the scheme. The county council appears to be in favour of the scheme and planning permission seems likely.
In October Councillor Mervin Smith, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for city development  & regeneration, said: “There is a need for good quality office space in the city centre. If we are to attract increased business investment then we need to make sure that we have an offer which is attractive.”
The development is be built in phases and construction works will take several years. A target completion date of 2017 has previously been suggested. The new scheme is to be built on the site of the demolished Unity House building. The multi-storey building was the tallest in Stoke-on-Trent before it was demolished in 2006. The 148,000 sq ft of floor space in the building was used as offices by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and also to some departments of Staffordshire County. However, due to claimed “sick building syndrome” Unity House stood empty for over 10 years and as it deteriorated it became unsafe and locals considered it an eyesore building.
Construction of the Central Business District was scheduled to start in 2010 but a start date of 2011 at the earliest is now expected.
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