Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has reacted to news that the Office for Place is to be scrapped by writing to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
A letter signed by CEO Rachel Laver describes ‘dismay and disappointment’ at last week’s announcement and says hosting the government organisation has been ‘hugely beneficial’ for Stoke-on-Trent.
On Wednesday, Daily Focus reported that the Office for Place, previously a small team in the then Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will be wound up to allow work to be ‘more efficiently and effectively delivered’ by the department itself.
The Office for Place was set up to help promote and advise on good design in the planning system and had a temporary home at Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Civic Centre whilst searching for a permanent flagship office in the city.
The letter invites the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to meet with local business leaders and share how the Government will support businesses in the region.
It reads: “We understand that this is a financial decision but hosting the Office for Place, has been hugely beneficial for Stoke-on-Trent. The Office for Place was recognised as playing a pivotal role in the importance of good design and placemaking for towns and cities across the country.
“This week’s announcement by Suzanne Kochanowski (Interim CEO), mentioned, ‘The decision does not affect wider government commitments to Stoke-on-Trent, including Levelling Up Funds and the Levelling Up Partnerships programme’. We will be keen to learn more about how these commitments will take shape on the ground in Stoke-on-Trent.
“Back in August, you visited Stoke-on-Trent and I would like to extend an invitation to you to return to our city and meet with some of our local business leaders. We are a city and region with a rich mix of business sectors and we would be delighted to host a visit and the chance for you to meet some of our truly inspirational businesses. It will be a platform for you to share your vision for the future and how the Government will support businesses in our region, in the years ahead.”
Current Office for Place staff will be redeployed within the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), across the country.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has told Daily Focus that it hopes the Government will consider the benefit of maintaining some of the national Chief Planner’s newly expanded team in the city.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook’s statement made about the closure can be found here.
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