Football stadium’s housing plans nears its goals

Former top-flight football stadium Victoria Ground in Stoke could finally see building work start on the site which has been derelict for 20 years.

Stoke City moved to the Britannia Stadium in 1997, before it won promotion into the Premier League, but previous plans for its historic home have so far come to nothing.

Now St Modwen plans to create 200 homes, a park and school sports fields and the developer is working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring forward a planning application in two phases.

Dave Smith, managing director at St. Modwen Homes, said: “We understand that the Victoria Ground is an important site for both the people of Stoke-on-Trent and the city council. Having taken the comments from the public consultation on board, particularly for the second phase of development, we are looking forward to turning our plans for the Victoria Ground site into reality and breathing new life into the community and surrounding area.”

Stoke-on-Trent City Council city director David Sidaway added: “We know residents feel strongly about the site and they want to see development take place.

“This is an important development site for the regeneration of the city and as such we want to see it brought back into constructive use in a way that improves the area, brings much needed new facilities for the community, and addresses the issue of site flooding.”