Plans have been passed for a new warehouse unit at Etruria Valley – with two local firms in discussions about taking it on.
Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd has won planning permission from Stoke-on-Trent City Council for a speculative development of a 72,000 sq ft unit at St Modwen Park Stoke Central, which could create in the region of 100 jobs.
The warehouse would be the final phase of the business park, which has already attracted the likes of Overclockers, Emerge and National Veterinary Services.
Members of the city council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the plans at their latest meeting.
During the planning meeting, Mark Dauncey, agent of the applicant, said: “My client has invested over £65 million in the regeneration of the area including the delivery of essential new infrastructure. This has helped to unlock the potential of the area and bring forward economic investment and high-quality jobs.
“The application under consideration today will provide a further 72,000 sq ft of employment space with my client currently in discussions with two local businesses interested in occupying the development.
“This full application has given considerable consideration to the potential traffic impacts taking into account traffic flows of the wider development. The evidence that supports this application shows the scheme will have a negligible impact on the road network and notably the highway authority along with Staffordshire highways and Highways England raise no objections.”
The plans outline a warehouse being built on vacant land at the northern end of Etruria Valley, next to the Trent and Mersey Canal and National Veterinary Services.
Most of the space – 67,908 sq ft – will be for industrial/warehouse use, with 4,198 sq ft of office space on the first and second floors. The plans also include a service yard capable of accommodating up the 19 HGVs and a 70-space car park which includes 14 charging bays for electric vehicles.
Vehicular access to the plot would be from an extension of the Newport Lane Link, via the new Etruria Valley Link Road.
Case officer Vicky Wootton, who introduced the planning application to the committee, said: “The site would mark the completion of the Stoke Central development. It is the final plot in what has so far been a very successful development in the city and of course approval would result in investment and economic benefits including job creation.
“Whilst there is no named occupier as yet, the applicant has suggested based on their experience this unit could provide somewhere between 95 and 133 jobs.”
