Work started on major Stoke-on-Trent Housing Development

Work has started on a major housing development in Stoke-on-Trent that will see 128 quality homes being built. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s housing company Fortior Homes is building the private-rented and market sale accommodation on the edge of the city centre.

This is the second development by Fortior, following on from the Smithfield apartments currently being built by developer Genr8. The four-acre site located off Lichfield Street in Hanley is seen as a major visual gateway into the city centre, and will contribute towards addressing the city’s need for high quality new-build rented accommodation.

As one of the city’s seven Housing Zone areas, it’s being delivered in partnership with Novus Property Solutions. A total of 85 one and two-bedroom apartments and 43 two and three-bedroom houses will be built, with people able to move in from spring 2020.

The design of the site will provide an attractive frontage to Lichfield Street, with an eye-catching pedestrian boulevard running through its heart, leading towards the ring road and city centre. This will take pedestrians away from the busy main roads and enable visitors from local attractions such as the nearby Emma Bridgewater factory to access the neighbourhood easily. The scheme will also provide three new roads to help improve the traffic system and flow in the area.

Councillor Randy Conteh, the city council’s cabinet member for housing, communities and safer city, said: “We’re committed to providing quality housing for our residents at all stages of life – and to ensuring that different types of accommodation are available to meet everyone’s needs. By providing new-build homes in this location we will be making sure we don’t lose people to other areas who want to live in this kind of accommodation, but are struggling to find somewhere suitable. There has been a significant amount of investment in the city centre and the infrastructure to support businesses. This is a way of continuing that support by providing the homes for those attracted to the city by the new business environment in a spot readily accessible from the centre. It’s also fantastic news that a local company, Novus, has successfully won the contract for this development. Helping local businesses to grow means more jobs and opportunities for local people. It raises people’s quality of life, and it supports our economy.”

Councillor Ann James, leader of the city council and a board member of Fortior Homes, said: “The development of this site will allow us to deliver on our objective for significant investment in new housing. We aim to provide high quality homes within Stoke-on-Trent, and the Lichfield Street site presents an exciting opportunity for the delivery of a new and aspirational private rental and market sale offer in a key location.”

Dean Povey, operations manager at Novus, said: “As a national contractor that calls Stoke-on-Trent its home, we can’t wait to get started on this exciting project. The development will provide quality homes for private rent and market sale for the city’s people, a stone’s throw from Stoke-on-Trent’s shopping, nightlife and business centre. As this is the first project we’ve worked on with Fortior Homes, we’re looking forward to building a lasting relationship.”