New Stoke-on-Trent business district is approved

Council bosses say the district will create more than 4,000 jobs

Stoke-on-Trent is to have a 1.2 million sq ft Central Business District after the city council voted to approve the development.

Council bosses say the district, on the site of Unity House in the city centre, will create more than 4,000 jobs.

Developers Genr8 plan to build the site in stages until completion in 2017.

Council leader Mohammed Pervez said: "It will help to transform not only Stoke-on-Trent city centre but also the wider North Staffordshire region."

The plans were approved by a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The district will include:

• 750,000 sq ft of office space

• 60,000 sq ft of leisure and retail space

• 80 apartments

• 230,000 sq ft of public space

A planning application is expected by the end of the year, with plans for a main tenant to be identified within 12 months.