Council leaders are proposing the launch a new corporation to oversee their masterplan for Stoke-on-Trent city centre.

The final version of the City Centre Masterplan is set to be approved by cabinet members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council on Tuesday.

It includes proposals for a new leisure centre, a bus rapid transit system, cultural attractions and hundreds more homes, with the aim of turning Hanley into a 'lively, welcoming destination'.

And the cabinet will also be asked to agree in principle to the creation of an urban development corporation (UDC) to take forward the masterplan.

UDCs are independent public bodies with the power to acquire and develop land in order to drive the regeneration of an area.

According to the report to cabinet, such a body would be able to 'crowd-in' investment, assemble and de-risk land and focus solely on delivering the masterplan in the years ahead.

Similar UDCs currently exist in Ebbsfleet and Cambridge, while the London Docklands Development Corporation achieved significant success in the 1980s, albeit not without controversy.

The report to cabinet states: "A number of potential delivery mechanisms and vehicles are considered to help unlock and accelerate regeneration, and the establishment of an Urban Development Corporation is identified as an appropriate delivery vehicle which would help to create the right conditions and support objectives for delivering and accelerating growth."

According to the report, it could take up two years to set up the UDC, with the need for a 'comprehensive and robust' business case. The report says that it is important that delivery of the masterplan is progressed in the meantime.

Council chiefs plan to approach the government in the coming months to request financial support for the regeneration of the city centre and the establishment of the UDC.

The masterplan has been drawn up with consultants from Arcadis and brings together various previously-announced city centre schemes, such as the proposal to build a replacement for the ageing Fenton Manor leisure complex in Hanley.

It also includes proposals for improved public spaces and pedestrian routes across the city centre. A key aim of the masterplan is to have 1,800 more people living in the city centre by 2030.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "A successful city centre is about so much more than buildings.

"We want it to be a place where people choose to spend their time, whether that's shopping, meeting friends, enjoying culture and entertainment, relaxing in great public spaces or living in the heart of the city.

"Our vision is for a city centre that is busy, welcoming and vibrant throughout the day and evening.

"This masterplan builds on work already underway and identifies practical opportunities that can be delivered with the right investment and partnerships.

"The next step is a detailed dialogue with government and its key agencies about the best means of delivering the plan, including a possible Urban Development Corporation, which would give us the tools and momentum needed to unlock major regeneration opportunities and attract the investment our city deserves."

Cabinet members are expected to receive a more detailed report on the creation of the UDC in early 2027.