St. Modwen ready to begin major regeneration at former Stoke City Football Stadium

The future of one of the most prominent and well-known sites in Stoke is now secured. Following last month¹s approval by Stoke City Council, outline planning consent has been granted for St Modwen Properties PLC to press ahead with the redevelopment of Victoria Ground, Stoke City¹s former football stadium, which will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre of Stoke.

St Modwen, the UK¹s leading regeneration specialist , has gained consent for up to 220 new homes, including affordable housing, on the cleared site together with a major programme of environmental improvements and community benefits.

These include:-

* A new roundabout into the site which will improve access and safety for Bishop Stamer Primary School.

* Provision of playing fields for the school as part of the public open space.

* Major improvements to enhance the River Trent corridor by breaking out the existing concrete channel, to open up the river and restore wildlife habitats.

* Dedicated bus route through the site providing a more convenient link between A500/Whieldon Road and Campbell Road to Stoke Town Centre.

* New pedestrian and cycle links in and out of the new development.

Mike Herbert, regional director for St Modwen, said: ³This is the final piece of the jigsaw following the relocation of the football club to the new Britannia Stadium ten years ago.

³Over the next few months reclamation work will be carried out, a new access made into the site, and the River Trent corridor opened up to create a natural habitat. It is anticipated that these works will be completed during next summer and the housing development will begin in the second half of that year.²

He added: ³Britannia Stadium is sited at the gateway to Trentham Lakes and has been a major catalyst to the economic regeneration of that site.

Although the future of the Victoria Ground has taken some time to come to fruition, due mainly to issues over the A500 and access, it demonstrates that the public/private sector partnership created tp bring about the new stadium has delivered its overall objections.²

Background Notes:

Stoke City FC, one of the oldest clubs in the Football League, moved from their original home in 1997. St Modwen working with the club and Stoke City Council, with support from the Football Trust, created the Britannia Stadium at Trentham Lakes in 1997, only one mile from the old ground.

For further information contact Mike Herbert (01782 281844). Issued by Paul Raymer of Howle Chapman Raymer (0121 313 1000).