I know it's hardly a powerhouse, but I've been wondering if anything will be developed here in the six towns. Stoke's formally tallest building Unity House was demolished recently and now the site stands empty - albeit with painted boards around it. I haven't seen any designs for it's replacement, although it's demolition is a step in the right direction, it being an eyesore.

I have however found what they're planning for the site:

"Developer St Modwen confirmed today that it wants to create space for up to five retail units or restaurants on the ground floor of a three-storey building proposed for the Unity House site in Hanley.

News of the new plans comes as St Modwen gears up to demolish the derelict Unity House building, at the junction of Potteries Way and Broad Street."
September 2002

Hopefully they wont go for something that small, and build something of equal height as Stoke residents don't seem to be as afraid of heights as in some cities, many people saying how Unity House used to be a landmark to tell them they're home.

There was a section in The Sentinel (local paper) on regeneration, although any pictures were small and the proposed developments looked a bit rubbish.

There are a number of good things going for Stoke, it's nightlife is pretty good and it's also not bad for music with enough gig spots to keep you satisfied. However the state of the architecture there is horrific. There's a number of sites that need demolishing, starting with the bus station and the former Hanley Shopping Centre (now superceded by the Potteries one).

So if anyone is from the area or with any news or interest in it, please post here. It's probably the worst city in the UK architecture-wise, but this could give Stoke a competely fresh start with a modern look (must be well designed though).

A few pictures of the buildings I listed above:

Unity House and it's Demolition:

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3275/unityhousebx3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3290/unityh11270x270cg4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/9923/unityh1270x270vk4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6954/unityhousedec03400x270uj5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8968/unityhousejan0603420x270bi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6569/unityhouseearlyapril1420x270xe2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

These need to go:

Hanley Bus Station & Shopping Centre:
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/9063/carparkqn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6121/bridgeev4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1848/old20shopping20centrest2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6346/hanley20area20of20discard2020old20shopping20centreoy6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


This could do with going too:

Parliament Row - the main shopping street:

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/8497/parliament20rowpa5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Unity House area of Hanley is to be developed along side the completion of the ring road so plans are on hold until Tesco ecide to start construction.
As for the bus station and old shopping precinct they have tentative plans for a new 3 storey shopping centre with an airport style bus station to be built underneath.This would be linked to the existing Potteries Centre by roofing Parliament Row from the Potteries Centre to the new Shopping centre by means of a glass roof providing sheltered shopping for nearly 50% of Hanley.
The Potteries Centre have purchase the now closed nightclub Jaxx and are looking into extending it northwards.The multi storey car park already has its foundations in place for any levels required.
Also in Hanley on the nortern side of the proposed completion of the ring road they have just passed planning permission for a hotel and casino.

The Unity House area of Hanley is to be developed along side the completion of the ring road so plans are on hold until Tesco ecide to start construction.
As for the bus station and old shopping precinct they have tentative plans for a new 3 storey shopping centre with an airport style bus station to be built underneath.This would be linked to the existing Potteries Centre by roofing Parliament Row from the Potteries Centre to the new Shopping centre by means of a glass roof providing sheltered shopping for nearly 50% of Hanley.
The Potteries Centre have purchase the now closed nightclub Jaxx and are looking into extending it northwards.The multi storey car park already has its foundations in place for any levels required.
Also in Hanley on the nortern side of the proposed completion of the ring road they have just passed planning permission for a hotel and casino.

Certainly hope Tesco don't grab hold of that site, it'd be a disaster for the regeneration stakes. As for a new shopping centre and bus station, I give them my full support, currently that site is really depressing and seems to attract thuggish youths. The airport style bus station sounds interesting, certainly hope it's nice and bright and not dark and dingy like the current one. As for these glass walkways on parliament row, that sounds a little ambitious and far fetched. First and foremost what they need to do is remove the many examples of bad architecture in Hanley, then they can progress. I think entire rebuiling of streets, like parliament row, in stylish boulevard like developments is the way forward, which could also create a greater sense of unity among the buildings, and not just the cheap red brick option.

I have seen the extension plans, although very little information is given on it's design, just the outline:

http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/shoppingcentres/potteries/developments.html

Certainly don't think the Potteries Shopping Centre is anything to shout about when it comes to architecture, but it is a fairly large one and quite useful to have.

By the way, do you know of any websites where I could access some of the designs or where you got some of the information shown here from?

Thanks

note how even a blank sign has to be chanined to a lamp post :) (no offence to the good people of Stoke).

I hope Stoke gets the regeneration, it needs it. Had a friend who went to uni there and I visited a few times, but didn't really strike me as somewhere I would want to stay. I don't think the multi-centre thing helps it at all, and Hanley seemed to be full of places that seemed a good idea in the sixties.

Studied in Alsager for a while before transferring to Manchester. Hanley was the best night out in Staffordshire/South Cheshire IMO. People are fantastic with a top accent, and the Sugarmill is ace.

Unfortunately I think you are right architecture wise - nothing that memorable at all. Maybe a period of sixties carbuncle termination is in order (a la Coventry) before we see the buildings and infrastructure that you Stokies deserve.

Quite a lot in the pipeline for the stoke/newcastle area. I have worked on a few projects as a structural engineer. Mainly residential up to 8 storeys.

Look for the regeneration body Renew North Staffordshire. Plenty going on in Hanley, Middleport/Burslem, Meir and Knutton & Cross Heath. I worked on it for a while, interesting stuff. The Hanley area is apparently being redeveloped by Countryside Properties, who have won plenty of awards for other projects, although whether they'll pull out all of the stops in this area remains to be seen.

Have to say though I'm afraid I personally found that the vast majority of Stoke could do with "starting again"...

can i suggest knocking all of stoke down as a good start..reminds me a lot of middlesbrough..urghhhhh!

Just found this PDf file on the future of Hanley.
It was written in 2005 and was suppose to start in 2006 but as per usual the council seem to be dragging their feet.
Good read though.
http://www.instaffs.co.uk/documents/CityCentreMasterPlan.pdf

Had a look at your development master plan there... Good read. I hope Stoke does see significant redevelopment in the future, why the hell not? Good luck Stoke :)

Purely Out of interest -

With regards to 'Hanley' and 'Newcastle-U-L'', and the area being 'the potteries', what, or perhaps 'where' exactly is Stoke? Is it the entire built up area? Or is just another name for what is officially Hanley?

Purely Out of interest -

With regards to 'Hanley' and 'Newcastle-U-L'', and the area being 'the potteries', what, or perhaps 'where' exactly is Stoke? Is it the entire built up area? Or is just another name for what is officially Hanley?

The City of Stoke-on-Trent is made up of 6 formerly seperate towns: Hanley, Burslem, Longton, Tunstall, Fenton and Stoke-UPON-Trent. Hanley is just the main commercial area of the city and is not interchangable with Stoke or Stoke-Upon-Trent. Stoke-Upon-Trent is probably the more historical of the towns, it's home to the University, Britannia Stadium and the main railway station. Newcastle-Under-Lyme is not part of the city as it is a seperate borough, but it is part of the urban and metropolitan areas of the the Potteries, as well as Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove. The entire built-up area is simply known as the Potteries.

Heres a couple of developments going on at the moment:

Houses and flats at Waterside
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/CGI1.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/CGI2.jpg

Lock 38 in Shelton
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/picture03_sm.jpg

opposite this site its just been announced that the old Twyfords building alongside the canal(120,000 sq ft) is to be turned into apartments,shops and 2 office towers by Modus Properties,will post artist impression as soon as its released.

Just found this:

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231463&home=yes&more_nodeId1=158324&contentPK=17288867


£100M VISION OF CITY'S FUTURE
36 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.

DAVID JOHNSON

09:40 - 11 May 2007

Multi-million pound plans to transform the city centre have been revealed for the first time today.

Iconic five-storey high transparent bottle kiln structures, transformed public squares, shared spaces for cars and pedestrians, spectacular lighting and an amphitheatre are all part of the £100 million plans to put Stoke-on-Trent on the national and international map.

The designs are by internationally-renowned architects and designers Glenn Howells as part of its winning bid to help kick-start Stoke-on-Trent's economy by drawing in visitors from across the country.

And they are to be officially unveiled by the Princess Royal during a visit to the city today.

Work will start within months - although the exact designs could change following public consultation - and the whole project is due to be finished by the end of 2010.

Mark Meredith, elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, said: "Second best is not good enough. We will create a place that every resident of North Staffordshire can be proud of so they tell their family and their friends to come and look at our special city centre."

The designs feature water jets and a huge fountain in Fountain Square, and a Green Mile running through the city, connecting Central Forest Park with Hanley Park.

Councillor Roger Ibbs, who is Stoke-on-Trent born and bred and has been a councillor for more than 20 years, sat on the panel which chose the winning design.

He said: "I am very, very excited.

"In my lifetime we will get one chance to really change things in Stoke-on-Trent. This is that time and we are going to do it properly."

The city council is putting up more than half of the £20 million of public money being ploughed into Hanley's transformation.

The balance is coming from Government agency English Partnerships, and experts hope private sector investment will bring the amount invested to more than £100 million.


Sounds alright, not sure where you can go to see the detailed plans though. They've got Glen Howells on board so that's not so bad, they've just recently designed a 37 storey scraper up in Bradford where I go to Uni which looks class, also the ones behind Snow Hill in Birmingham. Wish there was something a bit more inspirational than 5 storeys though, we could really do with a modern replacement of Unity House to punctuate the skyline. It seems we weren't afraid of building tall before, why not again? At the moment the city has that lilliputian nature of architecture about it, mostly everything's very low rise. The glass pot banks sound like an interesting idea to include Stoke's industrial past in it's future, though whether it'll actually look good is another thing, certainly interesting and different though. Just hope the first thing they pile a bulldozer through is the bus station, absolutely horrible thing.

Hopefully with this development and the City Waterside development surrounding the bus station area then it will have a knock on effect and will speed up the powers that be into a decision.
The main reason for the non start on the new bus station and shopping centre is they are waiting for a major department store to come on board but with the City Waterside development coming along at pace and bringing better housing and apartments and inevitably more money to the locality it might just kick start a dept store into a decision.


Hers some pics of the City Centre Vision that they are originally calling UrbanVision:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/th_slide0029_image162.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/slide0029_image162.jpg)
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/th_slide0030_image164.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/slide0030_image164.jpg)
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/th_slide0060_image075.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/slide0060_image075.jpg)
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/th_slide0062_image148.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/slide0062_image148.jpg)
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/th_slide0064_image150.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/slide0064_image150.jpg)
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/th_slide0028_image173.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/stokey33/Stoke%20on%20Trent/slide0028_image173.jpg)

Sounds quite good, is there any larger renders?

Its still in its infancy stage ans the fina; designs are subject to change so no better renders at the moment im afraid.
will post as soon as theyre available.

New regeneration project unveiled including 17 storey tower on Lichfield Street, Hanley:


City Slipway

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8213/02housing22ec8.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4973/stokecanalsidedevelopmela4.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1481/stokecanalsidedevelopmeir3.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9176/stokecanalsidedevelopmetn4.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1308/stokecanalsidedevelopmeto2.jpg

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1783/stokewinnerreadyba1.jpg


235 'HOMES OF THE FUTURE' SET FOR CITY

19 readers have commented on this story.

DAVID JOHNSON

09:40 - 22 January 2008

Radical designs have been unveiled which could see residents living in a 17-storey tower block, or the 21st-century version of terrace housing.

The scheme, drawn up by London-based architects RCKa, has been unveiled as the winning entry in Europan9 - the world's largest housing and urban design competition for young architects.

Now regeneration leaders will meet RCKa with a view to transforming a 5.7-acre clearance area off Lichfield Street in Hanley "over the next few years".

The plans, called City Slipway, include a central walkway running from the top of the site to a new basin on the Caldon Canal at the bottom.

Cars and pedestrians would have equal right of way in the terrace "homezones", and there would be activity areas at the end of each residential street for play, market stalls or public performance. In all, 235 apartments, town houses and family-sized homes would be built.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Government regenerationx agency Renew North Staffordshire believe the eye-catching project will help attract new residents, and keep younger, better-paid locals in the city.

Hardial Bhogal, director of Renew, pictured below, said: "Taking part in Europan9 has put Stoke-on-Trent on the map by demonstrating the importance we place on quality design and good architecture that will attract people back to live in central parts of the city.

"The young architects' enthusiasm for innovative solutions to city centre living, while paying the greatest respect to the heritage of the area, is reflected in an amazing vision."

Councillor Mervin Smith, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, said: "Taking part in Europan has meant that some of the best young architects in Europe have brought innovative and cutting-edge ideas for a major gateway to Stoke-on-Trent city centre."

Europan is promoted in England by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, a Government advisory body.

The competition aims to encourage cities and developers to find imaginative architectural solutions to transform urban locations, and the Lichfield Street spot was one of 73 sites chosen across 22 countries.

The site is in the middle of the new City Waterside neighbourhood, where about 2,400 new homes are planned over the coming 10 to 15 years, and it is set on a south-facing hil.

RCKa spokesman, Tim Riley, said: "RCKa are delighted to have been selected to help realise this exciting project, and look forward to working alongside the development team.

"At the heart of our scheme is a new public route that unlocks the potential of the canal, and the housing proposals are a modern interpretation of the traditional terrace housing that graced the area for many years.

"By ensuring new homes are designed to take advantage of the many positive aspects of the site and suit the needs of modern families, we hope to create a great place to live.

"We look forward to developing our ideas with our new partners, and building upon Stoke-on-Trent's important heritage for the future."

What do you think of the revolutionary plans for housing?

http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=244933&contentPK=19623993&folderPk=113911&pNodeId=244935


Here's two of the other designs that lost out:


Urban Village

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8035/stokerunnerup02wu1.jpg


Tea Set

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5276/stokecommendedag0.jpg


http://www.europan.org.uk/europan9/stoke/commended/


Strange given these large in part look quite a bit better than the winner of the competition, except maybe for the absence of a tower.


The site as it currently stands:

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2672/stokecanalsidedevelopmemt4.jpg


Personally think more of the terraced housing in Stoke should be done-up and reused for the low rise structures. Their replacements look pretty dire and appear made of steel sheeting as far as I can make out. The design of the tower looks alright, sort of like a modern looking mobile phone, and could act as a good gateway. Pity it's a gate to open up to very little of any worth architecture wise.


http://www.rcka.co.uk/flash.php?page=&gclid=

Thanks for the update Daniel.
I now live down in London and dont get to see Stoke nearly half as much as i would like or should do for that matter.
saw these plans last week and i quite like them.
Im assuming the new terraced houses are made up of wood pannelling rather than metal sheets. Difficult to tell with the black and white imaging.
Finding it impossible to find any decent pics on internet of the developments which were either in the pipeline or had started when i moved down here in July like Lock38, the ring road area and city waterside from Leek Rd upwards.
How is the Urbansplash development within CityWaterside coming along.


Cheers anyway Daniel....exStokey33

Thanks for the update Daniel.
I now live down in London and dont get to see Stoke nearly half as much as i would like or should do for that matter.
saw these plans last week and i quite like them.
Im assuming the new terraced houses are made up of wood pannelling rather than metal sheets. Difficult to tell with the black and white imaging.
Finding it impossible to find any decent pics on internet of the developments which were either in the pipeline or had started when i moved down here in July like Lock38, the ring road area and city waterside from Leek Rd upwards.
How is the Urbansplash development within CityWaterside coming along.


Cheers anyway Daniel....exStokey33


I'm hardly ever in Stoke myself, and even back there, I never lived in the City itself, but one of the outlying villages. Now you come to mention it, it probably is wood paneling, still don't find them exactly inspiring buildings though, and I don't agree with all this demolition of terraced streets. They can be made to look very good if done up well, but this Barratt Homes loving council is useless and just clears vast areas of the cities housing. There's never any decent pictures online of new developments, perhaps because they're few and far between, and regeneration hasn't properly got going here yet. Gonna have to look up that Urban Splash one.

How's London by the way?

Hows London???mmm

When i very first got here it was miserable but ive come to embrace its diversity and now i love it here.
I came down here to work in the construction industry and things are going ok.
I do miss Stoke though.I know its a shithole but its my shithole if you know what i mean.
Urban splash have been given the contract to develope the land just below the the Slipway development including the Bridgewater Factory and the old derelict building in the middle of the city waterside site near to the new school.
I was quite surprised and pleased that the council have got Urban splash on board as they have done some brilliant projects IMO.
I think once this area is complete along with the anticipated bus station improvement and the proposals for the squares within the centre then Hanley will be getting nearer to a 21st century city centre.
I will keep you informed of any news i come across.

P.S....What do you think about the city needing a tram/light rail system using the old railway lines and the underused Crewe to derby line?

http://www.gisinternet.stoke.gov.uk/evoplanning/pa/46120/web/00000046.jpg

This is a nice project i'm working on at the moment on Marsh street, hanley. This is not the current version. It now looks more like No1 Piccadilly in manchester.

Didn't notice there had been a post on here, not so much usually happens in Stoke, but anyway...


This is a nice project i'm working on at the moment on Marsh street, hanley. This is not the current version. It now looks more like No1 Piccadilly in manchester.


Do you mean No1. Picadilly Gardens, as in this building:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9570/dscf9747lbc4.jpg


If so it would definately be an improvement over what's currently there:

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9288/stokemarshstreetredevelzn2.jpg

A few sheds and wasteland.


Here's an edited and righted image of the one you posted:

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8800/stokemarshstreetdevelopdg2.jpg


Will it still be 8 storeys? Certainly an improvement, but Stoke could really do with something to push it forward in terms of quality, to reinvent it in a way, as well as something to stand out on the skyline as unity house once did, albeit in all its ugliness. Anything would be good for Stoke though, as long as it doesn't encroach on something worthwhile.

Just thinking given Stoke City have now gone up to the Premiership, it would seem we could really do with getting a city up to scratch to match.

Didn't notice there had been a post on here, not so much usually happens in Stoke, but anyway...

Do you mean No1. Picadilly Gardens, as in this building:

If so it would definately be an improvement over what's currently there:

A few sheds and wasteland.


Here's an edited and righted image of the one you posted:

Will it still be 8 storeys? Certainly an improvement, but Stoke could really do with something to push it forward in terms of quality, to reinvent it in a way, as well as something to stand out on the skyline as unity house once did, albeit in all its ugliness. Anything would be good for Stoke though, as long as it doesn't encroach on something worthwhile.

Just thinking given Stoke City have now gone up to the Premiership, it would seem we could really do with getting a city up to scratch to match.

Yes Dan, No1 piccadilly gardens is the one. A building I really like.
This project is 8 Storeys total: 4 office and 4 residential. 8 storey car park adjoining. Its about 32m tall.

Yes Dan, No1 piccadilly gardens is the one. A building I really like.
This project is 8 Storeys total: 4 office and 4 residential. 8 storey car park adjoining. Its about 32m tall.

Good to see it has some office space and isn't purely residential. Do you have any images of the new or current version of the project? I've seen No1. Piccadilly Gardens described as unloved, I guess because of the way it just plomped itself on half the greenery blocking the views of the rest of the surrounding Victorian buildings of superior quality. Though that's the case in central Manchester, the same couldn't be said in Stoke.

As for Hulme Upright Manning, they seem to have done a masterplan or something similar from viewing their website, but I don't know where you view this. Might you be able to point me in the direction or provide useful links, for this and other projects in the area?

Good news dan. The office quarter around the former unity house site seems to be moving. 3 phases of office blocks and hotels upto around 8 storeys. The company I work for has been asked to tender for investigative works.

Also, I beleive the completion of the hanley ring road is gearing up with a hotel, retail and casino development well advanced in the areas which have been recently flattened to make way for the ring road extension.

I can see Hanley will really kick on and develope into a true city centre within the next few years. HUM are updating their website so keep checking it!

I've seen No1. Piccadilly Gardens described as loved, ...

I presume you mean loathed? Well, only by heathens. It is very high quality IMO.

I presume you mean loathed? Well, only by heathens. It is very high quality IMO.

Whoops, just noticed that, I meant 'unloved', it's corrected now.

Cheers for the other info, is there anywhere you can view the designs for the Unity House replacement? Would've really liked to see a high-rise replacement for it. Hope there's not just the 17 storey City Slipway one on the last page going up.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/1-5bn-PLAN-SORT/article-359505-detail/article.html

From The Sentinel today. Let's hope that these plans actually come to fruition - many of these projects have been talked about for so long, but it's time for some action.

Some (long overdue and vitally important) news on the City's housing stock (from today's Sentinel):


Update: 1,000 new homes for city in £200m estates revamp
Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 14:15
Be the first to comment

RUN-DOWN estates in the city could receive up to £200 million worth of makeovers within a decade.
Planners at Stoke-on-Trent City Council are preparing a bid for a new Government grant, which would enable them to build around 1,000 new homes in areas of most need.
Abbey Hulton, Bentilee, Blurton, Chell Heath, Fegg Hayes, Meir and Norton have been picked out for the facelifts, due to limited variety of housing and high levels of deprivation, worklessness and poor health.
Some current homes with structural problems will be demolished.
At the same time, facilities such as play areas, street lighting and community centres will be improved.
About 60 per cent of the new houses would be council-owned, with the rest for sale and shared ownership.
They will be built on council-owned land that is currently derelict or unused.
The council is due to rubber-stamp the bid today. If the proposal is accepted building work will start in 2012, to be completed by 2017.
A bid is likely to be made for between £100 million and £200 million to revamp the six estates which have a large number of houses which the council struggles to find tenants for.
About 8,500 of the 20,000 homes on these estates are owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which hopes that replacing old one-bedroom bungalows and terraces with bigger, affordable, well insulated and disabled-friendly homes will entice people and businesses back.
People who are disabled or elderly and larger families would be catered for with a range of homes of up to four bedrooms.
The project aims to provide 670 new council-owned homes and 360 houses for sale and shared ownership.
It would also redesign the layout of the estates to discourage anti-social behaviour.
Jobs and training centres would also be built to tackle unemployment, which is rife in these areas, and work would be done to improve public spaces.
Plans include extra CCTV, better street lighting, more play areas, environmental improvements and new community centres.
Councillor Joan Bell, portfolio holder for housing, said: "This is a major regeneration programme that would transform Stoke-on-Trent's suburban estates.
"We want to increase opportunities for people living in these areas and want people to feel the estates are somewhere they want to move to, so we can create and develop communities there."
The money would come from a £1.9 billion Government Housing Private Finance Initiative fund, which was announced in August.
The council would donate to the scheme 23 areas of its land, which are currently either disused or a magnet for anti-social behaviour, where new homes could be built.
An annual contribution to costs would also have to be made out of tenants' rent once the new houses were constructed.
Alan Slater, head of housing at the council, said: "We consulted with communities and drew up masterplans for these areas back in 2005, when it was recognised there were problems with unpopular housing stock, some of which was hard to let.
"We hoped the Renew programme would include these areas, but in the end the Government specified the money was focused on the city centre terrace areas.
"But by then we had raised the expectations of people on those estates.
"We know demand is there and have invested as much as we can, but this substantial amount of money would enable us to improve the housing choices there and make a big difference."
The new grant would follow more than £200 million being ploughed into the heart of the city between 2004 and 2011, mainly in Middleport, Hanley and Meir, in projects led by Renew North Staffordshire.
But this suburban housing stock upgrade would be managed by the council, and officials say lessons will be learned from the controversial Renew project, which caused outrage among residents who claimed their communities were destroyed when homes were compulsorily purchased.
Mr Slater said: "There will be no compulsory purchase orders – this will all be voluntary by collaboration with residents.
"We will build new homes nearby before moving people from homes we want to demolish, and the aim is that they will want to move when they see the improved houses."
Ms Bell added: "We are not destroying communities here.
"People might think something like what's happened at Middleport will happen to them, but that is not the case.
"Communities will move together and new homes will be built in the same area. This is not a clearance programme – it's about regeneration and empowering communities to keep them together."
The estates in question are already benefiting from a £35 million investment by the council, but officials say this will not be enough to achieve long-term change. Even if the new funding is granted, projects like this which have already been agreed will continue.
The new regeneration programmes would be modelled on recent estate renewal projects, for example in Denham Gardens, Blurton, where the council built 17 new bungalows close to an existing community and all tenants moved voluntarily into the improved housing once it was built. The Government will make a decision on whether to accept the council's proposal by February.
If accepted, council officials would then spend until July 2010 consulting communities and drawing up detailed plans.
This would be followed by two years of negotiations to find a developer, housing association or consortium which would be responsible for the building and maintenance of the new houses. The houses would be built between 2012 and 2017.
Mr Slater said because building work would start in four years' time, the plans should not be affected by the current credit crunch.

For anyone interested :) The proposals for the East West Precinct were revealed today - they look pretty smart (a bit of a Cabot Circus rip off) but I'm pleasantly surprised by the quality of the proposals:

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Revealed-250m-shopping-centre-transform-Hanley/article-407248-detail/article.html

THIS is the vision for a £250 million shopping centre set to open in Hanley by 2013.
The detailed artists' impressions of the planned East West Centre go on show to shoppers for the first time today.
Developer Realis Estates has submitted its planning application for the centre, featuring a three-level department store, 70 stores and a host of cafes and restaurants.
Its application also features a multi-screen cinema, hotel, new bus station and multi-storey parking.
But the plan signals the end of the award-winning Coachmakers Arms pub, which would still be demolished under the plans.

Realis hopes the East West Centre will create more than 2,000 jobs and help Hanley to tempt shoppers back from Manchester and Birmingham.
It has spent £30 million acquiring land in Hanley and £1.5 million preparing the application.
Work should start in 2010 once the developer has got planning permission, sorted out road closures and compulsory purchases of land, and temporarily relocated the existing bus station. Initial talks have started with stores interested in filling the main department store.
Realis managing director Duncan Mathieson, said: "With the quality of our plans we are talking about high street names which are not in a city very much 'under-shopped' at the moment.
"We are very excited. It is a great time for us to lodge this planning application.
"We said in June that this was our goal and some people were concerned given the financial situation.
"But we have stuck to our word, we are committed to this scheme and have done it on time."
International firm Benoy has drawn up outline plans for a landmark centre which makes full use of its hillside location.
Architect Chris Stammers said: "It is a fantastic project and there is a lot of enthusiasm."
Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working to develop a public area of independent shops and restaurants, linking the East West Centre with the existing Potteries Shopping Centre.

For anyone interested :) The proposals for the East West Precinct were revealed today - they look pretty smart (a bit of a Cabot Circus rip off) but I'm pleasantly surprised by the quality of the proposals:

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Revealed-250m-shopping-centre-transform-Hanley/article-407248-detail/article.html


Cheers for the updates. This East West Precinct Shopping Centre is quite a large development isn't it? Here's the project website:

http://realis.myzen.co.uk/site/home.html

Found plenty of images on there as well:

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6884/stokeshoppingcentrecgihy3.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/977/stokeshoppingcentrerendyx1.jpg

^ I see what you mean about Cabot Circus, It also looks very similar to a scheme called Trinity in Leeds, which takes heavy reference from Cabot Circus.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6172/stokeshoppingcentreartipj5.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4204/stokeshoppingcentreartiso7.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5170/stokeshoppingcentreartiqw6.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6346/stokeshoppingcentreartikd2.jpg

^ Is blackburn house getting a reclad then as this image suggests?


http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6168/stokeshoppingcentreareary7.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5919/stokeshoppingcentreeastha9.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1820/stokeshoppingcentreleveeo1.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/373/stokeshoppingcentreleveuk9.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9233/stokeshoppingcentrelevetn2.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3389/stokeshoppingcentreleverl1.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1549/stokeshoppingcentremodetx1.jpg

It does seem a massive shame about The Coachmakers Arm's, gives the impression of being a pretty good pub:

http://www.thecoachmakers.co.uk/Media.php

I believe this is it, near the centre of the image:

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1485/stokeshoppingcentrepubdkt5.jpg

Though that isn't all that is being cleared, this collection of housing, that the pub is part of, will all be removed:

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/626/stokeshoppingcentrehouspx5.jpg


In addition there's also about 3 buildings from a pre-60's era amongst this lot:

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4480/stokeshoppingcentreotheot7.jpg


Most of the buildings are worthy of demolition, but I think wholesale demolition of this kind should be moderated somewhat, creating newly formed streets within the shopping centre that include these old buildings to increase the variety and include the city's history. In regards to that collection of houses at the bottom of the scheme, their removal is somewhat unneccessary given the section that will replace them will be the multi-storey carpark of the scheme. I would argue that an underground carpark beneath the development would be much better while freeing up more space for retail, though this article from The Radical Press probably conveys that argument a bit better and in more detail:

2,000 Jobs and a Car-Park on the Coachmakers.

By Matthew Taylor

June 17, 2008
So the proposals for the East West Centre have been unveiled. For anyone who doesn’t know, this is the area around the bus station in the city centre of Stoke on Trent. At the moment, it’s home to a derelict shopping centre and an embarrassment of a bus station that is hardly the sort of picture you want to give people when they arrive in the city. The council have been talking about redeveloping it for years, and it’s high time something was actually put into action.
Now there are ambitious plans being proposed to build an as-yet-unnamed department store, a multi-screen cinema, a hotel, plus bars and restaurants costing a massive quarter of a billion pounds. And none of this comes from the council coffers – it’s all private money from developers, Realis Estates. Plus, the completed development will provide an estimated 2,000 jobs.
But, naturally, there are a few ‘buts’.
The plans as they stand mean that the much-reported Coachmakers Arms, which has a petition signed by thousands to save it from demolition, will be flattened to make way for a new car park to house visitors flocking to the new retail arena.
This actually means they’ll be pulling down the old eyesore of a multi-storey car-park next to the bus station, and rebuilding an easier-on-the-eye version 100 yards down the road, on top of what was the Coachmakers pub.
We can’t let one thing get in the way of progress, of course. But when thousands are behind saving what some are dismissing as just ‘another pub’, the project is hardly going to get off to a great public-relational start. If people once again think that the council is disregarding their views, then opposition to what should be a positive scheme will be huge.
In the rest of Europe, I am sure many of you have noticed that in the city centres, you don’t actually see any car parks - not because they don’t exist, but because they build them underground. I suppose if I suggest this to the developers and the council it will be swiftly dismissed as a daft and over-costly idea. But if you work it out, surely it makes sense? Make the ultimate use of space in the city centre, save the Coachmakers, provide a covered, secure area for all the visitors’ cars – isn’t that better than a vast area of prime land being used as car-storage? This would keep the Coach’ campaigners happy, and at the same time, save the need to erect another monstrous mulit-storey on the edge of what they say will be a stylish development.
If you look at the plans I’m sure it would be feasible to scrap the car park at the edge of the complex, and put it underneath the department store. Having been to the East West Centre to have a look at the proposals, I promptly put this in the questionnaire suggestions box. So we shall see if they pay the blindest bit of attention.
Perhaps a more pertinent fly in the ointment is the time-scale. Although estimations are that work will start by 2010, the complex will not open its doors until five years from now. As others have commented, we in Stoke on Trent are already behind the times. The city centre is constantly losing out to other cities in the midlands which have superior shopping facilities. Shoppers in their hoards swarm to the Trafford Centre on a Sunday afternoon with a wad in their back pocket that’s aimed straight at the Manchester economy. We should have been building this centre ten years ago, and whilst we can’t change the past, we can surely get a move on with the future. Take a quick look at the future Tesco development at the other end of the city – they’ve brought down all the boarded-up properties, (and a tear came to my eye as the old ABC cinema was torn apart by the demolition ball) but they reckon the new supermarket will be up and open early next year.
Outline planning proposals for the East West Centre are to go in this September, followed by more detailed drawings in the new year. So, provided the council planning department doesn’t refuse planning consent for a project put they themselves drew up in conjunction with the developers, surely construction could start next year. And if they have a few fewer tea breaks, maybe the forecasted 1,000-strong construction team can get the job done in less than the expected three years. Then finally, we might have a city that can brag about something other than past-tense industrial prosperity and the oatcake.
As of Thursday this week, you can go online to look at the plans for the East West centre, or you can go along to the public meetings at the East West centre office on Charles street (the old Shipley’s amusement arcade). These take place on Thursday 19 June: 10.00am - 8.00pm, Friday 20 June: 10.00am - 5.00pm, and Saturday 21 June: 10.00am - 5.00pm.

http://www.radicalpress.co.uk/news-eastwest.html


I suspect though that that area does include retail anyway on the lower levels with parking higher up. Still if parking was freed up, the building could probably be adjusted to take up less space. That street always did feel natural there at the bottom of the bus park. Talking of which, the bus park in the new plans, seems to be relocated to the current park and ride carpark at the back of Victoria Hall. I guess this must be the airport-terminal esque design they were talking about.


Overall this seems a pretty high-quality scheme and a good replacement for what is there, though it feels like it enforces a bit of an arbitrary imposition on the pub and house area, and to avoid any possible disagreement with the public over the scheme, they probably should have adjusted it slightly. Looks very crisp, fresh and clean on the whole though, hope it doesn't get watered down.

The proposal seems pretty optimistic, viewing this from living in Bradford for the past three years I know the massive failures and delays the Westfield Broadway scheme over there has encountered, which makes me a little weary of the immediate progress projected here, though, different city, different circumstances, it may get the pre-lets it needs before building can commence, so it can continue as planned. Early days yet though.

Moving on. One of the other central regeneration schemes was revealed in its initial form on the Glenn Howells architects website for the new CBD, which covers the area where Unity House used to stand:

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6261/stokecbd0708081129ghstobd3.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7783/stokecbd0608081651ghstocg4.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8066/stokecbd0708081129ghstogu6.jpg

http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/projects.php?type=REGENERATION&project=90#


And in relation to regeneration projects in Hanley on the whole:

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/97/stokeplan1za2.jpg


This should be a pretty good scheme if it ever gets going, that Tesco scheme is a massive waste of land though. Thought that would have been prime for more office or leisure districts, would've said apartments, but we all know where that market's gone of late.

Unfortunately the above building that looks like Manchesters No. 1, which in Stoke is called Phoenix Place, is currently not going ahead due to the developer not being able to get funding. The scheme has its own website, www.phoenix-place.co.uk, i think. There has been quite a lot of interest in the office element of the scheme i believe.

Austin-Smith: Lord (http://www.austinsmithlord.com/our-news/stories/49/)|Stoke-on-Trent Bus Station|7,300m2|£15m

Austin-Smith: Lord has recently taken the public choice prize for the Stoke-on-Trent Bus Station Competition.

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-1-550x304.jpg

Austin-Smith: Lord was one of six architectural practices chosen from over 43 international entrants to participate in a limited invitation design competition for the new £15m Stoke bus station. Other shortlisted practices included Wilkinson Eyre, John McAslan + Partners, Grimshaw, BDP and Zaha Hadid.

Following the formal submission the team were delighted to see that the practice had topped both the Council’s own public vote and The Architects’ Journal’s peer vote when the schemes were anonymously placed on websites for an ‘X-Factor’ style vote on the preferred solution.

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-7.jpg

“It was good to get the recognition of the public and our peers, however we do take this kind of thing in the spirit in which it was intended. It was a welcome diversion to come in and see how we were doing whilst we waited for the interview and it gave us a lift knowing we were obviously doing something right,” explains Transport and Infrastructure Cornerstone, Richard Cronin. Unfortunately the practice was unsuccessful in the final selection with Grimshaw Architects being appointed by the Council and the Developer for the adjacent East West Centre who are partially funding the scheme.

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-3.jpg

An upbeat Richard Cronin had this to say, “It was a pleasure to take part in such a challenging and interesting exercise and to see how the other teams approached the problems posed by the site both in terms of its operational layout and its historical mining use. We knew that looking at a drive-through solution was a riskier option but genuinely felt it was the right solution for that site, utilising the ring road, and ensuring separation of the passengers from the buses was key to our approach. We pride ourselves on our ability to take another look at the problem to try and see if there is a better way of doing it. That’s what we as Austin-Smith:Lord bring to clients in the sector, it’s about a full understanding of the operational issues and an ability to analyse the patterns of use to deliver the safest and best architecture at the right price.”

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-5.jpg

The Austin-Smith:Lord team consisted of JMP Transport Engineers, Curtins Structural Engineers, Hilson Moran, Gleeds and RLB. Following the 40 day period to prepare detailed submissions, which included proposed layouts and external designs, residents were consulted about the designs and their views formed part of the selection process with the final decision being made by a panel of judges. Selection criteria included a number of factors including each design’s philosophy in relation to the context of the site, delivery within budgetary constraints, response to the management of pedestrian flow and potential pedestrian/vehicle conflict and maximizing the capacity of the site.

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-10-150x150.jpg (http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-10.jpg)
Clikable Image

Austin-Smith:Lord were the only team to suggest an alternative to the Drive In-Reverse Out layouts specified within the brief by proposing an innovative drive-through solution which was felt would provide a significantly lower accident risk, given the nature of the site. Building on the successful layout at Wolverhampton Interchange, which was designed by Austin-Smith:Lord in 2009, the team developed a strategy for a 14-bay drive-through facility which met and exceeded the operational capacity requirements of the brief, together with an additional strategy to expand by a further 30% capacity in future, if required.

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-2.jpg

The project location was entirely appropriate for designing a ‘stand-out’ building and the City’s history of pottery and chinaware (with manufacturers such as Spode and Wedgewood) was echoed in the design of a flowing carapace of lightweight ferroconcrete to suggest the qualities and delicacy of fine bone china, whilst providing a shelter from rain and snow to the pedestrian concourse. Natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting and air-source heat pumps were incorporated into the design to meet sustainability requirements.

http://www.archicentral.com/wp-content/images/Stoke-on-Trent-Bus-Station-Competition-Public-Choice-Awarded-to-Austin-Smith-Lord-4.jpg

Although function and safety were critical, the regenerative effects that the new bus station could bring were immediately clear. An orientation was developed to place the main entrance to the bus station on the link between the civic buildings and the proposed precinct to the east. An advantage of the revised bus routing was that this link could be kept truly pedestrian, free of all traffic, with the exception of the occasional service vehicle. This also enabled a free flow of pedestrians from the bus station into the proposed market square to the north, which in turn, connects to the city centre.

A robust cost plan, developed closely with Gleeds, incorporating tender returns from another similar local scheme, ensured the £15m budget was not exceeded.

The new, 7,300m2 public transport interchange will act as a catalyst for future regeneration which will unlock delivery of the new £250m East West precinct development by Realis Estates. Construction is planned to start on site in 2011 with completion in 2012.

Figured I might as well reply here as well as in the other thread. Thanks for reposting here...



Well that would've been nice, more than nice, beautiful, but it only got the public vote, which as always is not the deciding factor in any development like this. Grimshaw Architects instead got the opportunity. Their design not matching the one above, at least aesthetically, not necessarily bad though.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/CITY-S-GOT-TICKET-RIDE/article-2342337-detail/article.html


Here's the winning design:

http://a.imageshack.us/img412/8697/busstation.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/busstation.jpg/)

http://pitsnpots.co.uk/news/2010/06/new-bus-station-stoke-trent



This video makes me like the Austin Smith: Lord scheme even more though:

gXRFcmVLEAo

Also had 36% of the vote (the largest by some way) on this poll:

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Bus-users-insist-function-form/article-2221019-detail/article.html

The winning design had 7% of the vote (last place) in the same poll. Do the council ever take a few hints from its citizens, you know, the one's that'll actually use the thing, unlike the councillors.