Hanley's new civic centre developers in row with Stoke-on-Trent City Council over rival business park
A ROW has broken out between city council officials and the private firm hired to build its controversial new £40 million civic centre – over plans for a rival business park less than two miles away.
Developer Genr8 claims one of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's flagship regeneration schemes will sign up businesses which could move into Hanley's proposed Central Business District (CBD).
The authority wants to attract dozens of companies to Etruria Valley by working with developer St Modwen on a multi-million pound expansion designed to create hundreds of jobs.
But Manchester-based Genr8 has lodged an objection to the scheme over fears it will provide too much competition for the CBD.
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Genr8 Developments partner John Early said: "The Etruria Valley development close to Hanley city centre is promoting out-of-town office development. It will always be detrimental to the regeneration of the city centre."
Genr8 is to build the new civic offices on the site of the former Unity House as part of the CBD, which is expected to deliver a total of six office blocks, two hotels, cafes and restaurants.
The authority is relocating from Stoke to kick-start the project in the hope other private firms will follow.
Council planners are expected to approve the Etruria Valley business park plan at a planning meeting today.
But campaigners who have collected thousands of signatures protesting at the Hanley switch today raised concerns over the Genr8 dispute.
Save Our Stoke campaigner Graham Barrett, aged 61, of Honeywall, said: "We keep being told that everything is going according to plan but when you get to the truth of the matter there is squabbling, objections and a whole catalogue of problems.
"The senior council officers are earning salaries higher than Government ministers and it's time we started asking what they are actually doing to earn them."
News of the row comes a day after The Sentinel revealed the council is refusing to release land for the £14 million expansion of the Potteries Shopping Centre to protect the planned £350 million City Sentral development in Hanley.
Property expert Richard Day, a partner at Hanley-based estate agents Daniel and Hulme today called on the authority to resolve the dispute.
He added: "It's important that developers are working together so we can improve the city as a whole.
"I can understand where Genr8 is coming from. It is important that, if we're going to have a CBD, that it is where the office offer is going to be."
But Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt said: "Genr8 should be focusing on delivery of the CBD.
"They have enough on their plate, and in the long term the two developments are not incompatible."
Newcastle Borough Council has also objected to the Etruria Valley scheme.
The city council declined to comment on the Genr8 objection.
Comments
by GilbertL
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 4:11PM
“oh how I wish we could do this
http://tinyurl.com/c2bkbch”
by RegenMan1
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 3:57PM
“Tristram Hunt should stop talking botox.
What has he delivered for his constituents since being parachuted into a safe seat?
If his performance on Question Time the other month was anything to go by he doesn't know his **** from his elbow.”
by RegenMan1
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 3:52PM
“Surely, if a row is to take place between the City Council and DGenR8, it should be the council kicking their backsides for failing to deliver anything.”
by RegenMan1
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 3:50PM
“Graham Barrett, aged 61, of Honeywall, asks "The senior council officers are earning salaries higher than Government ministers and it's time we started asking what they are actually doing to earn them"
I can answer that question for you Graham;
1) trousering barrowloads of your cash,
2) delivering nothing in return (all talk and no action),
3) being economical with the truth over their achievements and progress of schemes,
4) laughing in all our faces because there is nothing you or I can do to stop them.
5) when eventually being rumbled, doing a runner back to their distant homes.
As has been said so many times, none of the 'world class leaders' have shown any commitment to the city that pays them so well by actually living in the city so as to receive (suffer) the services that they are in charge of delivering.”
by Valeplace
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 2:31PM
“Never able to get a good town planner when you need one,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,”
by I_Norris
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:56AM
“Spode site, eturia. Chatterley valley all good access and good visibilty they would create and become really gateways
No public art as gateway to show were open actually development along our key route.”
by GilbertL
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:51AM
“Why am I not surprised by any of this...”
by DizzyDave1960
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:45AM
“I'm still confused why the CBD has to be built in Hanley, instead of making plans for it to built in Stoke-upon-Trent and making full use of the access links of the Railway Station, A500 and A50!
Like MusicHallFan states; "Proper Planning" or should I say forward planning is non existent in Stoke-on-Trent Schity Council. Who also think a dyslexic Schity Sentral is move in the right direction. I think the undersized Bus Station say's it all about our council's forward thinking.”
by MusicHallFan
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:03AM
“There is nothing like proper planning - and this is NOTHING like proper planning!”
by I_Norris
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:55AM
“If the council give approval to eturia signaling they agree 2 office development can compete, they must release the land to CSC and allow 2 retail developments to compete. Competition is good for everyone esp traders and retailers as rentals will have to compete too”