Ambitious plans to build a new indoor arena, hotel and hundreds of homes as part of a flagship city centre project are back under scrutiny – despite been given the green light earlier this year.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has confirmed it is carrying out further detailed planning work to assess the best value and mix of potential future development on Etruscan Square.
It is also looking at the feasibility of an adjacent 645-space multi-storey car park – officially called a Mobility Hub – on cost and potential usage grounds as part of a wider review of parking in the city.
The council secured £20million of Levelling Up funding from the Government to cover the infrastructure works for Etruscan Square on land previously occupied by a former bus station and the East-West Precinct.
Then in April, the authority’s Planning Committee approved a three-phase application – granting permission for detailed plans for the first phase as well as outline consent for the next two phases.
The first phase involves building 139 homes – consisting of flats, duplexes and townhouses – on land at the corner of Birch Terrace and Lichfield Street.
The second phase was expected to include more than 150 homes, a residential courtyard, commercial space and an underground car park; while the third phase includes a proposal for a 3,600-capacity arena and 138-room hotel.
However, Council Leader Jane Ashworth says all development is now under review so the authority can assess what is the most beneficial and cost-effective way forward for the project.
Councillor Ashworth said that while they would make the most of the £20m Levelling Up money to prime and take forward the site, what comes next depends on the outcome of the reports.
She said: “It is clear the council is in a very challenging financial position and costs are escalating, so it is common sense to review how we spend the money to take forward Etruscan Square.
“So, we are getting feasibility studies done on the kind of affordable residential properties that could go there and looking at major works such as the arena proposal because, inevitably, physical build projects come with a big cost to the council’s budgets.
“In my opinion, the arena plan was never financially viable, so we want to make sure whatever is developed there meets the needs of residents and businesses, is value for money and provides the right regeneration opportunities for the city centre .”
The £18.8 million mobility hub was also given the green light in April. The 645-space facility was to be built on the site of the 430-space Meigh Street Car Park in Hanley.
Cllr. Ashworth added that the council was commissioning a review into the use of car parks in the city as a whole – looking at occupancy, frequency of use and location. This, she says, will ensure best use of existing facilities first before considering new developments.
She said: “The review will decide what we need once and for all, and where we go with the Mobility Hub multi-storey car park development.
“Quite frankly we are nowhere near a sensible answer to it yet so must wait for the report before taking the required action.”
