Plans are lodged for new Hanley civic centre
PLANS have been submitted for the city council's controversial new kaleidoscope-style HQ and central library.
Developer Genr8 has asked Stoke-on-Trent City Council for planning permission for the first of two office blocks the authority will occupy in Hanley from 2015.
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An artist's impression of the proposed civic centre in Hanley.
The new civic centre will cost £40 million of the council's £55 million investment in the planned Central Business District (CBD).
Plans show the 100,000 sq ft, five-storey complex on land between Broad Street and Warner Street will house a 13,600 sq ft library to replace the public section of nearby City Central Library.
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Designs show open plan offices, a grand central atrium, rooftop solar panels and cycle storage as part of plans to encourage workers to leave their cars at home.
Demolition work is underway to clear more than 12 shops in Broad Street to allow the development to begin.
Members of the Save Our Stoke campaign – which is fighting to keep the civic centre where it is – today accused the council of submitting the plan immediately before Christmas to minimise responses to the public consultation.
Campaign co-ordinator Graham Barrett, aged 61, of Stoke, said: "They've done it when nobody has time to think about it to just get it through.
"There have always been rumblings about the city council, but I don't think there has ever been such a consolidated opposition to one plan.
"People really feel something has got to be done. They can't spend this much money at a time of austerity."
The council is building and occupying two office blocks in the CBD. Over 10 years the CBD will expand in six phases to include six office blocks providing office space, ground floor shops and cafes around a central piazza and hotels.
Residents' groups and Stoke traders are opposing the plans, which include selling the civic centre, Spode, King's Hall and town hall to offset the amount it will loan. But the city council insists the CBD will bring 4,500 new jobs to the city once completed, as well as 300 jobs during the building work.
Doug Wardle, of traders' group the City Centre Partnership, said: "The big increase in footfall will be a positive thing for Hanley.
"As well as the workers, who will need to shop and buy their lunch, there will be a lot of residents coming in to visit the civic centre. While they are there they are going to have a look at things and do a bit of shopping."
Council and Labour group leader Mohammed Pervez, below, said: "Despite deep cuts to our funding from Government we are doing everything possible to stimulate jobs and growth in our city.
"I'm aware of the controversy around the CBD and the council's move.
"But a successful city needs a successful city centre and we need to act now to safeguard Stoke-on-Trent's future.
"We will do everything to minimise borrowing and raise the money from the sale of surplus land and property."
The planning consultation ends on January 11.
Comments
by Gobowen46
Monday, December 31 2012, 5:27PM
“Don't waste words here go to City Council Planning website and place youe PLANNING objections there.”
by gormhenghast
Monday, December 31 2012, 4:27PM
“Is standing in the Council Chamber and laughing at them an objection to this abortion coloured obscenity, will it count, or will the fat man at the front shout "out with you".
They have some nerve, I hope that come the next elections the people of Stoke eject them, and reverse these obtuse decisions, its such a CRIME.”
by I_Norris
Sunday, December 30 2012, 9:39AM
“You have untill 10th Jan to submit your objections, send them to
planning.apps@stoke.gov.uk
Application to 54398/FUL
2 Petitions to consider signing
The removal of Stoke on Trent City Councill - has 792 signatures
http://tinyurl.com/brdelat
another peitition
and
Stop all plans to relocate the Civic centre has 80
http://tinyurl.com/a34eyr8”
by StupidSity007
Sunday, December 30 2012, 3:08AM
“What a stupid sity we live in. Building sivic offices outside the sity sentre. It makes me sick to think that they are screwing down on public services whilst building another council building. Who are they running this stupid sity for.... themselves no doubt.”
by 1957SE
Monday, December 24 2012, 6:07PM
“Bet they wont have 2 give council millions in order to build like other buisnesses have 2 !!!! merry chrismas fat cats”
by MusicHallFan
Monday, December 24 2012, 4:36PM
“Fat chance of planning permission being refused!”
by lagu2
Monday, December 24 2012, 1:48PM
“Date of plans
Registration (Validation) Date: 19/12/2012
Earliest Decision Date (Consultation Period Expires): 11/01/2013
Target Date for Decision: 20/03/2013
They kept that nice and qiet did'nt they”
by wolagnub
Monday, December 24 2012, 1:24PM
“Planning permission? Don't worry Genr8 they are already in the bag; bought and paid for.
Or perhaps I am being cynical.”
by PanleyDuck
Monday, December 24 2012, 1:17PM
“Submitting the plan immediately before Christmas seems underhanded almost to the point of corruption.
Someone, and I don't mean the the developers, is making a lot of money out of this.
May I suggest that no contract to move the civic offices be signed until the the pesent building in Stoke are sold. To do anything else is financial madness.”
by lagu2
Monday, December 24 2012, 1:11PM
“So Hanley is going to be a building site for 10 years "Over 10 years the CBD will expand in six phases to include six office blocks providing office space, ground floor shops and cafes around a central piazza and hotels.". It's the first i've heard of this. Who in there right mind will want to move there business into the hanley CBD. i thought it was all going to be built at once. What is the true cost of this , is it 75 million for all the buildings or is that just for the council office. Which ever it is a total waste on money. and the next quote ""But a successful city needs a successful city centre and we need to act now to safeguard Stoke-on-Trent's future.". Hanley will never be a successful city centre, you will have the potteries hopping centre ( which i have never seen full of shops there are always ones empty ), you will have the new city central ( yes i did spell it right ) with a new cimema and shops we already have in there. Then we will have the bit in the mddle, the shops out side, M&S are moving so thats another shop empty. I am sick and tired of stoke city council trying to copy the likes of Manchester and Birmingham, this is the city of stoke on trent "The Potteries" and we are fast loosing our history and more important jobs.”