Green light to progress £20m levelling up projects

Major regeneration projects totalling £20m to help revitalise Stoke-on-Trent have been given the go-ahead by the government.

Up to 10 projects across the six towns have been identified by the city council, which the cabinet will decide on whether to approve on 8 October.

They include public realm improvements in Tunstall, Longton and Stoke town centres, creation of green corridors and improved accessibility to the canal network and an Advanced Green Skills Centre at Stoke-on-Trent College’s Burslem campus.

The funding is through the former government's levelling up programme.

It was awarded last autumn, the council said, but now the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has given the green light for projects to proceed.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said the news was "fantastic".

"The funding will give us the chance to make valuable investments in our city and address some key issues.

"We have listened carefully to what people have told us - they want to feel safer on our streets; they want to ensure the next generation has the skills they need to get on and get a good job; they want more community facilities for all to use; and, critically, they want to protect our heritage and build on it as our city enters a new era."

Other projects up for progression are investment for work to be carried out on Burslem Indoor Market and supporting the on-going development of the Goods Yard scheme, where geothermal energy will be used to heat new apartments, cafes and bars.

They also include the development of a leisure campus at Vale Park to provide more facilities for the community and for the club, along with updated recreational facilities in deprived residential communities.

The extension of the Safer Streets initiative in a number of town centres would also be looked at as part of the funding as well as a new city masterplan for Hanley, the council said.

Finally, the funding could be used for a study to look at Chatterley Valley's potential use as a centre of green energy.

The city council added it would be responsible for the delivery of the majority of the projects alongside the Canal and River Trust, Stoke-on-Trent College and the Port Vale Community Trust.

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