Residents of Stoke-on-Trent will be familiar with the saga of the East/West Precinct and old bus station sites in Hanley. The private sector-led development ground to a halt a few months ago, and the Council were offered the opportunity to purchase it. It’s current derelict condition makes it an eyesore, and not an appealing prospect, especially considering the number of other projects we are currently delivering across the city. However, the alternative was the site being sold off piecemeal and further delaying development of this key city centre site.
The City Council’s cabinet agreed the purchase of the site, along with proceeding with demolition. Further plans for the site will come forward in due course. The decision to borrow additional money to purchase the site will now go forward for approval at City Council.
You can read more about the proposal in this Sentinel article, and below is a clip of me moving the report to purchase the site at City Council Cabinet.
My colleague, Cllr Daniel Jellyman, has also written this piece about the plans for the East / West Precinct.