Plans for major new city centre car park submitted

Genr8 Developments, the developer behind Smithfield, Stoke-on-Trent, has submitted a planning application for a new 734-space multi- storey car park at the site.

The developer held an online public consultation for the car park – which included details of the planned works and insight into what the MSCP could look like – ahead of submitting the application.

It is proposed to be developed on the existing 106-space Broad Street car park, which will provide additional modern and secure parking facilities to the city centre. The car park will also meet demand from Smithfield’s office, hotel, and residential developments, as well as Stoke-on-Trent’s expanding visitor numbers.

The move comes shortly after the developer had its plans for the next phase of development at the site approved, which will see 3 Smithfield, a 62,000 sq ft Grade A office building, delivered.

If approved, the car park could be operational in mid-2022.

Richard Ingham, partner at Genr8, said: “Both the Hilton Garden Inn and Clayworks completing at Smithfield will naturally drive a further requirement for safe and secure parking and it’s clear that there is a need for more high quality city centre parking.

“Smithfield and the wider city centre continue to grow, and it’s important that we have the right infrastructure in place to support that growth and keep the momentum going.

“We’re really excited with the design we have developed for the new car park which we think further underlines Smithfield’s credentials as a high-quality mixed-use destination of regional significance.

“Delivering this for the city will help continue pushing Stoke-on-Trent in the right direction, reinforcing the message both locally and on a wider scale that the city is very much ‘on the up’.”

The Hilton Garden Inn and Clayworks are both expected to be operational before the end of the year.

The hotel, Clayworks and 3 Smithfield, once complete, will be adding to the existing 210,000 sq ft of office space already constructed at Smithfield, which is occupied by a mix of both private businesses and the public sector.

Smithfield is the first development of its kind for Stoke-on-Trent, with Clayworks marking the first time that build-to-rent has ever been brought to the region. The apartments will be managed by LIV Group, and will be owned by Fortior Homes – Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s wholly-owned private housing company.

The scheme’s Hilton Garden Inn will be owned by Genr8 and operated on its behalf by RBH Management – one of the country’s largest hotel operators.