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15 January 2006
With over £2.3 billion of public and private sector investment committed to the regeneration of Burslem, its renewal programme has received another boost with the start of work on a new housing scheme by Countryside Properties.
Over the next 20 years both Stoke-on-Trent City Council and RENEW North Staffordshire, responsible for delivering the Government’s housing market renewal pathfinder, aim to substantially upgrade the city’s housing stock. A major thrust of Stoke-on-Trent’s regeneration agenda is to refurbish 36,000 properties and to build 12,500 new homes.
Countryside Properties is regenerating a circa 15 acre brownfield site in the centre of Burslem. Currently disused commercial premises, the area will be transformed into a residentially led mixed-use sustainable community comprising 420 new homes, apartments and live/work units.
Working alongside Keynote Housing Group, 15% of the homes will be affordable properties and available through market discount or rent.
Alan Cherry, Chairman of Countryside Properties commented: “Both the City Council and regeneration bodies such as English Partnerships, RENEW North Staffordshire and Advantage West Midlands have achieved a tremendous amount and created a positive platform to continue to drive forward the regeneration of Burslem.
“We have invested significantly in our regeneration programme to create better quality homes in Burslem. We are delighted with RENEW North Staffordshire’s involvement and look forward to maintaining strong relationships with our partners and stakeholders ensuring both new and existing residents benefit from a better quality of life.”
The most historic of the six towns that form Stoke-on-Trent, Burslem is synonymous with its pottery heritage. The scheme, situated within a housing market renewal pathfinder zone is one of a number of regeneration projects in the town totalling £16 million. The town has already benefited from the £1.2 million restoration of the Burslem School of Art Building and the £4 million development of the Ceramica visitor centre.
Additional projects include the Burslem Townscape Heritage Initiative, a £4 million programme to repair, refurbish and re-use 15 historic buildings and a £2.4 million project to bring Burslem indoor market back into economic use.
Hardial Bhogal, Director of RENEW North Staffordshire added: “RENEW is committed to the regeneration of Burslem and Middleport and is keen to work in partnership with developers like Countryside Properties to bring about change in the area. We have established a Developers Panel to steer the regeneration of the housing market across the pathfinder area and are pleased to be able to continue working with Countryside Properties.”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council granted planning permission for the scheme in September 2005 and the first homes at ‘Sadlers Park’ should be available for occupation towards the end of 2006. Countryside Properties is recognised as one of the UK’s leading developers in creating sustainable communities, and is What House? ‘Housebuilder of the Year’ 2005 and Building’s ‘Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year’ 2005.
For more information about Sadlers Park please contact the sales office on 01782 839305 open daily from 10.30 am until 5.30 pm, or visit www.sadlerspark.com
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