Genr8 completes £55m first phase of Smithfield Stoke-on-Trent

PHASE one of Stoke-on-Trent’s new Smithfield development has been completed by developer Genr8.

The £55m scheme involves the provision of two five-storey buildings providing 220,000 sq ft of Grade A offices and customer service hub for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, set amongst extensive new public open space including a central public square and a new pedestrian boulevard connecting the site to the surrounding city centre.
 
Manchester-based Genr8’s completed phase 1 scheme also includes significant areas of ‘meanwhile uses’ on land designated for future development within the Smithfield scheme. The landscaping and footpaths create accessible and useable open space that integrate with the new district into the city centre.
 
The two buildings, designed by RHWL and constructed by Laing O’Rourke, are intended to create a new focus for the city centre, and provide the catalyst for subsequent phases of development on Genr8’s Smithfield scheme.

Smithfield is being delivered in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council as part of a wider regeneration strategy for the city.
 
A third office building providing 50,000 sq ft net office space is currently being marketed by JLL and Genr8 is also close to announcing the completion of a 126-bed hotel deal. Future phases will include further commercial offices, residential and additional leisure uses creating an exemplar mixed use quarter for the city centre.
 
Cheetham & Mortimer has been appointed agent on the retail and leisure units and is close to announcing an occupier for the ground floor of 1 Smithfield.
 
Mike Smith, a partner at Genr8, said:  “Our partnership with the city council has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of the first phase of development at Smithfield. These buildings provide the first Grade A office accommodation to be delivered in the region for a number of years and represent a step change in the quality of accommodation available in the city.”
 
James Devany, Associate Director at JLL, added: “Completion of the first phase of development at Smithfield is a brilliant achievement, and signals the intent by Genr8 and the city council to create a vibrant Central Business District that can attract inward investment into the region; as well as providing high quality office accommodation for local businesses, who are looking for the best environment in which to operate.  

“Undoubtedly, the first phase is just a sign of things to come and there are exciting times ahead at Smithfield.”