POWERING UP STOKE-ON-TRENT
A Prospectus to secure Partnership and Investment FOREWORD
Stoke-on-Trent is the Businesses and developers Through this prospectus and national litmus test for have been drawn in increasing the dialogue that follows, we the Government’s numbers by Stoke-on-Trent’s want to forge a partnership locational advantages as a that crosses all relevant levelling-up ambitions. North Midlands gateway government departments connected to all key regional and agencies. Before COVID-19 the city was infrastructure, with access undergoing the most significant to high quality, affordable transformation in its economic accommodation and a fortunes it has experienced committed local labour force. for over 30 years. Having This has been complemented been among the fastest local by a major expansion in economies to rebound from private housing development, the last recession, the city had drawn by the combination of continued to outstrip swathes an attractive location and a of the UK in terms of economic local authority with a growing growth, job creation and reputation of getting quality innovation. development away.
Physical regeneration has As we look ahead beyond the been important in this process, pandemic, in a post-Brexit but alongside the cranes and landscape, we are determined resulting development, there to regain this momentum as has been a rise in levels of quickly as possible. We need confidence and aspiration Government’s support to do which have, in turn, helped to that. We know that over this recalibrate external perceptions next period there will be many of Stoke-on-Trent and its national initiatives and funds to economy. Seeing our growing support economic recovery, civic pride reflected back at us As a city, and working with in the positive media coverage our regional partners, we and the changing perspectives but we want one need to work at pace with of government, investors and Government to agree a single other important stakeholders, conversation, one set of priority projects and is fuelling local aspirations shared plan. interventions that are right and local belief in what is for this city, deliverable in the possible. We have thrown off next few years and to which the shackles of an imposed we all commit. We can then all external narrative of managed make the available resources decline to forge a fresh identity serve that agreed programme as a city punching above its and make best use of the new, weight, generating wealth fairer Treasury Green Book. from a diverse and growing industrial base. The core purpose of this joint We will need to use targeted endeavour would be to drive investment in improved Most importantly, economic development by infrastructure to connect fostering high growth sectors, to and build on the existing we have our hard- creating the high skilled well- strengths in the city. working residents, paid jobs our city needs. We must ensure that the city’s unrivalled in their residents have the quality kindness to each of education, health and skills needed to access the other and loyalty opportunities the realisation of to their city. this Prospectus would create. We will reduce individual dependency on the state and They represent a massive build the resilience of our communities through the reservoir of potential that strength of local partnerships, with the help of the right including the crucial role of the deal, can make this city voluntary and faith sectors. even greater, an economic powerhouse in the North What is most exciting about West Midlands, serving this invitation is that it describes a prospect that is the nation. eminently achievable. So much is already in place. Councillor Abi Brown We already have a city-wide Leader, Stoke-on-Trent City full fibre gigabit-enabled Council network, developable land and developers ready to invest and Jack Brereton Those priority build, amazing heritage assets, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South a network of extraordinary sectors will include green space and waterways, Jo Gideon digital, advanced two complementary MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central universities with highly manufacturing relevant offers, the potential Jonathan Gullis (especially ceramic of HS2 connectivity and major MP for Stoke-on-Trent North resident companies committed components), to the city. green energy and creative. WHERE WE START Our Key Strengths ne o the astest growing economies Growth in GVA per capita o in England ranking st in period - or o making us the 000 th astest growing economy obs created in the ro th last five years Po erhouse eport per capita in England including London ith o densit increasin a ove the national average Between 2015-2018 wage levels increased by Stoke-on-Trent (3.9% annually) 5.1m Excellent road and rail connectivity West Midlands 0 visitors a year to regional and national networks with Nationally to local attractions potential for further improvement and museums
over new homes built in 0 / 0 97% on brownfield land, CERAMIC VALLEY Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone ith a urther c 000 dwellings launched in 2016, is one of the most success ul EZ in the UK 000 with planning permission Our Key Challenges
Gross weekly pay averages at