Press Release

Major jobs boost for Stoke-on-Trent following coalfields funding announcement

15 September 2005

An investment of almost £10m from national regeneration agency English Partnerships is set to kick-start the redevelopment of the former Sideway Colliery, in Stoke-on-Trent, with the potential for more than 900 jobs by 2010.

The £9.9m funding will come from English Partnerships’ National Coalfields Programme, designed to breathe new life into former coalfield communities. It will be spent on extensive reclamation, including the removal of a tyre tip, the construction of an access road, drainage and utility infrastructure and creating a platform to assist in any potential housing development on the western part of the site.

The cash will also pay for the relocation of a colony of protected great crested newts, which need to be carefully moved before any work can commence on site.

The 27 ha Sideway site is just south of the A500 and a short distance from junction 15 of the M6. It has been identified as a prime location for large industrial/distribution uses with the capacity to accommodate one large commercial building of up to 500,000 sq ft.

Neil Mortimer, Head of Coalfields for English Partnerships, said, “The main regeneration priority for this area is to provide employment opportunities and Sideway Colliery has an important role to play to achieve this aim.

“This funding will enable a large contaminated brownfield site to be remediated and brought forward for development. This will lead to the creation of a significant number of jobs in an area where employment deprivation is high, and help to lever in private investment.”

Mark Meredith, Elected Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said, “The remediation and development of Sideway Colliery will contribute significantly to the provision of high quality available land, making more choice available to the market. This is a large site with unrivalled access to the M6 and M1.

”This project has been designed to fit into the wider regeneration of Stoke-on-Trent, including the Housing Pathfinder Strategy, development of other National Coalfield Programme sites and priorities of the Regeneration Zone.”

Following work on the A500 and the opening of the M6 Toll Road, combined with the availability of labour in the Stoke-on-Trent area, there is a strong demand from the distribution sector seeking large-scale warehouse facilities in the region.

Marie Greer, Director for Staffordshire at Advantage West Midlands – owners of the site - said, “Sideway will be a first class addition to the region’s portfolio of high quality sites developed by the Agency.

“One of our roles is to create a diverse and dynamic business base and Sideway will bring valuable new investment and new, skilled jobs close to communities in greatest need.”