The projected cost of a council housing scheme has increased by 25 per cent in two years.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved a budget of £2.43 million for the redevelopment of Lily Gertrude Simister Court in Tunstall in 2024 – the cost has now risen to £3.04 million.

The council says the £615,522 increase is due to inflation, further design work and 'abnormal' costs relating to the site.

Planning permission for 14 one-bedroom council flats on the former site of a sheltered housing complex was granted in 2025.

Cabinet members have now approved the increased budget for the project, saying the flats will help meet demand for social housing in the area.

While the cost of the scheme has gone up, the council has also secured additional grant funding of £727,000, from Homes England and developer contributions, meaning less council borrowing will be needed.

Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for housing, told Tuesday's cabinet meeting that the approval of the budget represented an 'important step forward' for the project.

He said: "This scheme will deliver 14 new homes in an area where demand is significant, while making effective use of a cleared brownfield site, already within the ownership of the housing revenue account.

"I welcome the updated budget and funding which will see the scheme progress towards delivering much-needed homes."

Cllr Walker said that construction work would start in January, with the affordable homes due to be handed over to the council in January 2028.

There are currently 481 people on the council's housing waiting list who need a one-bedroom flat in the Tunstall area.

According to the report to cabinet, around £300,000 of abnormal costs relate to works such as retaining structures, cut and fill, drainage and acoustic glazing requirements.

Cabinet members welcomed the scheme's progress, saying it demonstrated the council's commitment to developing brownfield sites.

Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet support member for planning, said: "This knocks away the myth that we do not build on brownfield sites.

"We have to rely on Homes England a lot of the time with these sites. This administration is always looking at ways that we can develop sites."

Cllr Walker added: "I spoke to a developer who explained that to build 179 homes on a brownfield site would cost them around £5 million to decontaminate the land before they laid a single brick. It's not economically viable for them to do that without a huge subsidy."

The flats will be built to nationally described space standards, and the ground floor properties will be designed to be accessible for older residents and people with disabilities.

The development will also include communal outdoor space and 14 parking spaces with electric vehicle charging points.