News Archive

Stoke-on-Trent reaches end of steel journey as St. Modwen acquires final parcel of land

Left: Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage at Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Right: Ian Romano, Senior Director – Development, St. Modwen.

St. Modwen has purchased the last 46 acres of land at St. Modwen Park Stoke Central (formerly known as Etruria Valley), Stoke-on-Trent, from Tata Steel. The deal brings a conclusion to agreements made with the steel making company nearly 25 years ago and enables the developer to deliver a further 800,000 sq ft of industrial/logistics space.

St. Modwen was selected by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to regenerate part of the former Shelton Iron and Steelworks site in 1988, following the 1986 National Garden Festival. The 165-acre Garden Festival was created after steel production ended at Shelton Works after nearly 140 years in 1978. The Festival was a short-term initiative, acting as a catalyst for the long-term regeneration of the derelict land.

The first 165 acres, named Festival Park, were developed rapidly by St. Modwen, creating a successful mixed-use business park in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. The remainder of the Shelton Works site continued to be used as a major Rolling Mill until 2000.

As use of the Steel site declined, St. Modwen entered into a Joint Venture with British Steel in 1996 to regenerate a further 30 acres of redundant Steel Works land. Following the closure of the Rolling Mill in 2002, a second agreement was made for the remaining land on the 125-acre site, as an extension of Festival Park. The site was originally branded Etruria Valley and is now St. Modwen Park Stoke Central. British Steel, which later became Corus, is now part of major international group Tata Steel. St. Modwen Park Stoke Central is a key site in St. Modwen’s joint initiative with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd, which was established in 1993.

St. Modwen has successfully developed most of St. Modwen Park Stoke Central and the purchase of the remaining 46 acres from Tata Steel out of the Joint Venture agreement brings to an end around 180 years of the Iron and Steel Companies’ association with the site. In its heyday, Shelton Iron and Steelworks employed more than 3,000 people and produced over 400,000 tonnes of steel each year.

Festival Park and St. Modwen Park Stoke Central now extend to nearly 290 acres. St. Modwen has delivered over 1.3 million sq ft of development, comprising: 315,000 sq ft of retail space including Festival Retail Park and a Morrisons supermarket; 166,000 sq ft of leisure space which includes an Odeon cinema, Water World and Tenpin Stoke; 455,000 sq ft of office space comprising more than 30 office buildings; and 376,000 sq ft of industrial/logistics space.

Festival Park also includes the 150-bedroom Moat House Hotel and extensive public open space on the site, with development work to date providing more than 6,400 jobs and around £190 million in value to the local economy.

The developer is also behind many other major regeneration schemes in North Staffordshire, including the revitalisation of the award-winning Trentham Estate and Gardens, located just six miles away.

Ian Romano, Senior Director – Development, said:

“Acquiring the final 46-acres from Tata Steel is significant as it’s the culmination of decades of work bringing disused land back to use. The closure of the steelworks in 1978 was a huge blow to thousands of families in Stoke-on-Trent, but through strategic regeneration and working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we’ve been able to create a vibrant development that has attracted businesses to the region, creating thousands of employment opportunities across a number of sectors. “We are continuing to push forward our regeneration work in the region, with a focus on industrial and logistics space. We are committed to attracting further inward investment and creating more employment opportunities for the people of Stoke-on-Trent.”

Andy Pickford, Director of Property at Tata Steel, added:

“We’re pleased to have worked with St. Modwen over the years and to have supported the revitalisation of a major steel works site that ceased to meet current economic demands. St. Modwen and the Council have attracted a number of great businesses to the area and have created more jobs than the steelworks had in its heyday. All credit goes to them for turning this site around.”

Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

“We’re working hard to create jobs and significant, sustainable economic growth throughout the city. The council has been working closely with St. Modwen for more than three decades and it’s fantastic they’ve reached a deal for this important site which has huge potential to regenerate the area and create jobs and growth for our city. It’s further evidence that Stoke-on-Trent is viewed as a great place to invest and comes on the back of a national report which highlighted how Stoke-on-Trent is the fourth fastest area in the country for employment growth. We are open for business and are working with partners to deliver a prosperous city, providing choice and opportunities for our residents and business.”

Find out more about St. Modwen Park Stoke Central, here.