Families back plan to sell cleared land in Hanley and Cobridge
LAND cleared of homes in a doomed regeneration programme could be offered to developers to help breath fresh life into "forgotten" neighbourhoods.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering proposals to sell off sites in Hanley and Cobridge to private developers.
Under the plans – to be discussed by the cabinet this week – Hanley's Bucknall New Road, Dresden Street and Ludlow Street clearance areas will be put up for sale.
The largest site is the 10-acre former Churchill China plot, in Waterloo Road, sandwiched between Cobridge and the city centre.
Call WHITEGATES Today 01782 209935 ..Limited offer. Available only up on production of voucher. Sell your home for £399 plus vat.* #EPC is required to market your home not included in offer.
Terms: *Upfront payment, non-refundable in the event of property remaining unsold, being withdrawn from the market or being sold by another agent, yourself or by any other means.#EPC £62.50 plus vat
Contact: 01782 209 935
Valid until: Thursday, July 04 2013
The sites – which the council says have a combined value of about £4 million – form part of the incomplete flagship City Waterside project.
Theywere among a series of neighbourhoods identified for redevelopment by the now-defunct Renew North Staffordshire housing programme.
The controversial scheme ended in April last year after more than 2,000 homes were demolished, 7,500 properties were refurbished and just 676 houses were built.
Residents close to the sites have called on the council to push the sales through after becoming tired of living next to the "eyesore" areas.
The sale proposals for the site off Waterloo Road include properties in Douglas Street and Crane Street along with existing houses in Furnival Street's corner with Blackwell's Row.
The plans reveal eight homes in Crane Street and two in Furnival Street remain under private ownership. The rest are council-owned, with most boarded up.
Grandmother-of-three Jean Wood, aged 75, who has lived in Hillary Street, Cobridge, since 1960, said: "I would like to see some houses built on the site as people need new homes. It could help bring some community spirit back to the area."
A resident in Furnival Street, who asked not to be named, said: "The council has allowed this area to be degraded and we have been forgotten.
"We believed our home would be bought and cleared. We were shown images of the new development but nothing has happened."
Various plans for the Churchill site have fallen through over the years after developers shelved proposals.
In Hanley, cleared land between Waterloo Street and Commercial Road could be marketed along with plots off Bucknall New Road and Ludlow Street, Balfour Street and Wellington Road.
Student Lia Wade, aged 16, of Ludlow Street, who lives opposite a row of boarded-up houses, said: Having empty houses devalues properties."
Hairdresser Susan Round, aged 47, said she was forced to move her hairdressing business, Direct Cuts, from Berkeley Street to Waterloo Street 10 years ago because the regeneration scheme killed walk-in trade.
Councillors will be asked to consider options including selling the land with no restrictions, marketing the plots with a covenant, offering the areas to partner agencies or to retain the sites.
Comments
by camband
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:18PM
“I took a stroll around my old haunts the other day -a sunny one too! The Grange at Cobridge -no Festival Park and Wildlife area... I got lost. Couldn't work out where I was at all. Gone.
Then, for the second part of my 'stroll back in time' -as I emerged from the past 'Grange' and onto Waterloo Rd opposite Remer St and where the Corner Pin stood in my days, I found even more mysteries.
Strangely though, there was still, and 'functioning' in somewhat of a very depleted business -the remains of the 'gravel and aggregates' yard -which we knew as part of 'Bedingfield and Gaters' (behind their car showrooms).... And the land and business is still owned by the Gater family I believe.
But as I continued along Waterloo Rd, then turning into Grange Street -how sad that was. Cobridge Hall seemed closed for good -almost derelict. Soho Potbank had gone. There remained a just one house in Grange St itself -but surprise surprise -all of Emery St was still standing!
But the rest of those little maze of streets had disappeared under the bull-dozer... and a new complex taking over most of that land -which was my childhood. Really sad. The Raven remains open -but not the pub we knew it as in the 40s/50s and perhaps the 60s. I heard even that pub is to close too soon.
The fish and chip shop -Yorkshire Fisheries, is still thriving -passing trade mainly -not many locals left. Those who are -living in the few reaming houses in Hilary St and Charles St, Furnival St etc.....
But the old pub -the 'White Horse' that my granddad used to drink in -back in the 1920s/30s, and which has been close -and lying derelict for decades, I was shocked to see has been given a new lease of life. It's been renovated and people are living back in the old place. My mate Georgie Wilshaw used to live there with his parents and siblings when we were growing up.
I do believe the 'building' -the White Horse' is a Grade II listed building. Elder Place -the old Elder Place -the cottages have gone... has as most of Elder Road itself. Ghosts only remain.
So much for progress.”
by putmefootinit
Monday, September 24 2012, 5:04PM
“Having just read the gypsy story and now this ........... the picture of Bucknall New Road .........it's all coming together.........multi-culture the council keeps talking about..........yes we are going to have caravans lining Bucknall New Road...........who else would want to buy "prime" land next to a dirty, noisy, main "high speed" road to Sity Sentre ?”
by BucknallMel
Monday, September 24 2012, 11:43AM
“Oh, what a surprise - prime town centre land is going to be sold off to private developers instead of used for building 'affordable' houses (well, affordable to senior council officers, anyway). Which is exactly what most people in the city expected would happen, apart from a few sweet, naive souls who still believed this council's fairytales. And even better, they blame central government for cutting off funds. Who decided on a mass bulldozing programme when they didn't have the cash to rebuild? Stoke Council. Who continued to bulldoze people's homes and businesses long after they knew the government wasn't going to fund their fantasy schemes? Stoke Council. Who are still determined to close down and bulldoze thriving businesses and family homes to make way for their grandiose developments? Stoke Council. Here's a thought - why not build the Sity Sentral development on land that's already empty instead of trashing more areas? Bucknall New Road springs to mind...”