Dec 4 2005
Six local and national organisations joined forces today to promote a “best practice” new sustainable community in Stoke-on-Trent.
English Partnerships, RENEW North Staffordshire, the Housing Corporation, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone and British Waterways have come together in a new partnership.
They have signed a collaboration agreement to make the most of development opportunities in 50 ha of mainly cleared land to the south of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre.
The area will be called City Waterside. This is because the Caldon Canal runs through the middle of the area and because the site offers the first opportunity to create planned, modern, high quality city living in Stoke-on-Trent.
The six partners have created a City Waterside steering group that will work to ensure the area becomes a “best practice” example of how to build a new, sustainable community in Stoke-on-Trent. Each organisation is committed to using its skills, finances and powers to ensure the vision is a success.
The chief executives and senior managers of each organisation will formally sign the collaboration agreement today (November 29) at RENEW North Staffordshire’s scheme update launch event at the Britannia Stadium.
The City Waterside area is made up of several large plots of cleared former factory land surrounding the Caldon Canal just half a mile from the city centre. The site includes many valuable heritage buildings and it is set on a hill with spectacular views over the countryside. It is also in the middle of the City Centre South area of major intervention where RENEW North Staffordshire is prioritising regeneration of older housing.
The partners have commissioned a masterplan for the area from leading architects and masterplanners EDAW. This will guide development of the area over the coming years.
The collaboration agreement commits each of the partners to working together to promote high quality design, high environmental standards, community involvement, high standard affordable housing and to make best use of the physical assets like buildings, the canal and the hillside.
City Waterside is intended to set the highest standards for other developments in North Staffordshire and to be an example to the rest of the UK of successful regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent.
Paul Spooner, English Partnerships regional director for the North West and West Midlands, said, “City Waterside will show how Stoke-on-Trent can make use of its unique heritage and location to create something very special. By working together we will promote the highest standards of design and bring forward new private investment, making sought-after areas where people will want to live and work."
Hardial Bhogal, director of RENEW North Staffordshire, said, “We have a fantastic opportunity here to create planned, modern, high quality, city living for the first time in North Staffordshire. It will show how we can attract new residents to the centre of Stoke-on-Trent while also providing housing for local people.”
Margaret Allen, Housing Corporation field director Central, said, " We are all working in partnership. Our part is to concentrate on the provision of good quality, affordable housing, so that the local community and emerging economy can benefit from new housing and investment in their neighbourhoods."
Mark Meredith, elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, said, “The city council is providing a new primary school in City Waterside. We will also work with developers and our partners to create a high-quality environment and good transport links in the area.”
Aktar Choudhury, chief executive of the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, said, “City Waterside will help drive the economic transformation of North Staffordshire by providing new housing for the people who will work in the new businesses we are attracting to the city centre. It will also create a new image for Stoke-on-Trent while preserving our heritage.”
Julie Sharman, general manager of British Waterways said, "Waterways are catalysts for regeneration, this has been proven in other British cities and it can work in Stoke-on-Trent too. The Caldon Canal will provide a focus for new housing and high quality public space in City Waterside."