Tunstall demolition underway

Tunstall demolition underway

1 May 2007

Work has started on the demolition of a former stone merchants in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, which is being cleared to make way for an £8 million regeneration scheme which will create up to 70 new jobs.

Adjacent to the former Alexandra Pottery which was demolished last year, the premises were previously occupied by NBS Stone Products Ltd which has now relocated to alternative accommodation in Burslem.  The relocation deal has safeguarded jobs and allowed the company to take on a new product range and manufacturing processes, which could lead to future expansion.  Local contractor CMR Demolition Ltd is carrying out the £23,000 contract.

The plans for the site, represent the first phase of a wider regeneration scheme and will deliver a 30,000 sq ft health club with ancillary retail space, two small retail units, a 158 space car park, improvements to the highways and public green space and the installation of a public art feature.

The larger second phase, which comprises a mixture of social care, health care and retail units is currently on hold pending the results of the Primary Care Trust’s consultation of their priorities for service delivery within the city.

The current consultation document does not prioritise Tunstall which could mean a delay in a further £14 million of investment for facilities which would house approximately 300 employees.

Developers Dransfield Properties, who have been responsible for £14 million of investment in Tunstall bringing names such as Matalan, Next, and Argos to the town have been credited with the resurgence of shopping activity in the town centre, resulting in the arrival of new multiple retailers such as William Hill and Subway to Tunstall High Street.

Andrew Malley, Retail Property Director at Dransfield Properties, said:  “We have decided to adopt a phased approach as we have made a commitment to continue the regeneration in Tunstall and by doing so believe that it will provide encouragement to the PCT and keep our hopes alive of securing a new health centre and thereby delivering extended health care services to the growing population of Tunstall.  Tunstall is clearly defined as an area of multiple deprivation, it is a growing retail and administrative centre well served by public transport and we believe has a very deserving case to be a priority for new health care provision in the city."

An application to deliver the scheme in phases has been approved by Stoke City Council.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk