Stoke-on-Trent Hanley Town Centre Masterplan

Overview

The City Council is in the process of appointing an expert team of multi-disciplinary consultants to produce a city centre masterplan and delivery plan. 

Description

Like most city centres, Hanley has been negatively affected by the recent major changes in the way that urban centres function, based on changing consumer and business preferences, leading to an increase in unoccupied buildings and a negative perception of the centre. 

Vision

However, the city centre has a number of unique characteristics (both opportunities and challenges), such as the polycentric nature of Stoke-on-Trent, the defined quarters within the centre, the importance of the city’s built heritage, and the need to provide a sustainable, vibrant city centre which is attractive, welcoming, accessible and appreciated by all. 

Opportunity

The masterplan will consider this context and will provide a radical yet robust framework which will act as a catalyst to start to address some of the challenges faced in the city centre and to ensure its long-term success and sustainability.

The masterplan will set out a clear, aspirational vision for the city centre, alongside viable and deliverable recommendations for achieving this vision. The commission also includes a delivery plan, which will look in detail at the delivery of the plan including considering the option of identifying an appropriate delivery solution to lead on the transformation of the city centre. 

Timelines

The masterplan and delivery plan are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. 

Key facts

Key heritage regeneration opportunities in Stoke-on-Trent 

Why invest in Stoke-on-Trent?

Stoke-on-Trent is an ambitious city with big plans and, through partnership, we drive economic and inclusive growth across the city.

It is a place uniquely defined by its industrial and technological heritage, and, today, through its business base engaged in digital services and e-commerce –  harnessing the very same entrepreneurial spirit to transition fast and re-emerge as one of the UK’s biggest growth centres.

Key reasons to invest:

• Ranked second-fastest-growing economy for post-recession job creation
• Between Dec 2020 to June 2022, house prices increased 5.3%, with England at 2.9%
• 2016-2020, highest GVA growth per head at 21%
• £485m capital investment programme for next 5 years
• Ground-breaking partnership with Homes England to build 3000 new homes + £400m GVA
• Digital transformation supported by the University of Staffordshire, with its 3000-student-strong Digital School, and by Keele University, with their Digital Society Institute researching into AI transformation and application. Also the supply of low-carbon heat as from the mine water heat opportunity. Electrical grid indicated headroom of 150MW, with future enhancement to 230MW to support AI data centre(s) and eco-park development.
• The same location benefits that attracted Michelin in 1926 are, once again, bringing international businesses to Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Jaguar Land Rover, Amazon and Molson-Coors are just some of the names investing millions of pounds and creating thousands of jobs here.

Insight for investors

• Type of investment sought: Investor and developer partners 
• Target investor(s):  Investors/developers 
• Timescale: 2025-2026
• Planning status: Master-planning in 2025-2026