Buyers needed for prime Hanley housing site
EMPTY land believed to be worth £1 million will be shown off to developers at a housing summit.
Sales packs will be handed out to building and investment firms in a fresh bid to kick-start the proposed Canal Quarter development.
The five-acre site off Lichfield Street, in Hanley, and part of the former Imperial Pottery site remains largely undeveloped, despite proposals being on the drawing board for seven years.
Plans to build 250 new homes on the land were approved in 2009 but never materialised due to the slump in the housing market.
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Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council will outline the type of development it wants to see on the land at an event at the Britannia Stadium next month.
The authority says any scheme must create a place where working families and individuals can live within walking distance of the city centre.
A report to the council's cabinet says: "Changes to housing market conditions since 2007 have however resulted in various delays in redevelopment coming forward.
"While the current housing market conditions remains difficult, indications are that release of the land now would attract private sector interest and potential investment.
"It is, however, recognised that market conditions remain challenging and aligning the phased development of the site with the redevelopment of the city centre, in particular the Central Business District, is more likely to see a positive return, and a higher quality offer.
"Sales packs are to be prepared that provide any detailed site information that the local authority has available plus an indication of the aspirations for the site, and how they fit in with the strategic context for the areas within which they are located.
"These aspirations will cover the acceptable mix of property sizes, types and tenures and will look to promote high quality design and use of materials."
The report, due to be discussed on Thursday, also reveals the council currently pays £5,000 each year to look after the cleared site.
Chris Webster, aged 31, who lives in nearby Astle Place, said: "It's good to hear the council are trying to do something with the land because I think it's starting to look a bit of a mess.
"Whether or not someone comes forward to buy the land and build on it is another thing."
A resident of Eastwood Terrace, who asked not to be named, said: "All of this was supposed to have been done years ago. I'm not holding my breath."
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