Long-term plans to revitalise Stoke town centre have been given a £237,000 funding boost.
Stoke-on-Trent has been chosen as one of 10 locations to take part in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (DLUHC) High Street Accelerators Programme.
The new government pilot encourages communities and businesses to join-up with local authorities on long-term regeneration plans to tackle vacancy rates, run-down properties and declining footfall.
As part of the scheme, Stoke-on-Trent City Council will also be invited to apply for a share of £5 million of Green Spaces funding to create “more pleasant environments” for residents.
Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has identified high profile developer Mace as the preferred bidder to work on a refreshed plan for the 10-acre Spode site.
Mace has worked on projects such as the construction of a recreated Coronation Street set at ITV’s Media CityUk in Manchester and building a new home for the Mary Rose ship and visitor attraction.
Council leader Jane Ashworth said: “We are delighted to be chosen as a High Street Accelerator and receive this much-needed funding for Stoke town centre.
“We have exciting plans to support Stoke town and are breathing new life into the stalled proposals to develop the Spode site.
“A number of historic buildings have benefited from improvements under Heritage Action Zone projects but unfortunately, like a number of town centres throughout the country, we have shops that are empty and other privately-owned buildings that have fallen into disrepair
“So it is really important that we use this money wisely. To this end, we’ll be talking to local businesses, community groups and key stakeholders to come up with a plan that will give Stoke town the boost it deserves.”
The announcements come just two months after Stoke-on-Trent was named as one of the first nine places in the UK to receive a share of £200 million through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Heritage Places Initiative.
