A leisure centre, a bus rapid transit system and hundreds of homes all feature in a 'realistic' new vision for Stoke-on-Trent city centre.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council leaders say their masterplan will aim to make the city centre a 'more vibrant, connected and welcoming space' by 2050.

The document, drawn up with consultants from Arcadis, brings together a number of previously announced plans, such as the proposal to replace Fenton Manor with a new leisure facility in Hanley.

There are also plans for a pedestrian route – the 'green-to-green connector' – linking Hanley Park and Central Forest Park, and an ambition to have 750 new homes on brownfield city centre sites by 2030.

The masterplan includes potential routes across the city centre for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which typically involve segregated roadways to make bus travel more reliable.

Council chiefs say their vision complements the forthcoming residential-led scheme at Etruscan Square, and claim it is more 'practical' than previous masterplans.

The council's Labour administration shelved previous plans for the city centre which included long-term ambitions for an indoor arena and a tram system. Members of the public are now being invited to have their say on the draft masterplan.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at the city council, said: "The city centre is a vital part of the economy and culture of this city.

advertisement

"I'm aware people might hear the word 'masterplan' and think they've heard it all before. This is something different: a realistic and practical vision with clear short and long-term goals.

"We will start to see the benefits from this quite quickly in terms of addressing empty shops, bringing historic buildings back into use and better public transport connectivity. A lot of this work is already underway.

"We want this to be a plan the whole of the city can get behind. That's why we are calling on residents, workers organisations and visitors to get involved. Their feedback is vital to ensuring the masterplan reflects community aspirations and delivers sustainable growth and opportunity for all."

The council announced proposals to replace the ageing Fenton Manor with a new city centre facility two years ago.

According to the masterplan, the new centre could include a swimming pool, modern gym facilities and a UEFA-complaint 3G football pitch.

Three potential locations, including the Century Oils site, are included in the masterplan. The document also says that a strategic outline business case for the BRT, confirming route options, will be prepared this year.

Reform UK group leader Dan Jellyman, who was cabinet member for regeneration under the previous Conservative administration, questioned the need for a new masterplan when the council could already be implementing regeneration schemes in the city centre.

He said: "They talk about residential, but the council already has planning permission for residential on the Etruscan Square site which they could implement tomorrow if they wanted.

advertisement

"They also have the £20 million of Levelling Up cash sitting in the bank, so there's no need to apply for funding, and they also have a delivery partner.

"So they already have the three things you'd need. There's also outline planning permission for more residential at Clayworks. So why are they paying Arcadis taxpayers' money to come up with this masterplan? And if it's meant to be 'realistic', why haven't they delivered anything in three years?"

A four-week consultation on the masterplan will run until Sunday 22 March. A number of consultation events are being planned at locations across the city.

For more information, visit www.stoke.gov.uk/citycentremasterplan