Waterways are catalysts for regeneration, as has been proven in other British cities and now it is set to work in Stoke-on-Trent too.

Regeneration of canal-side former factory land close to the centre of the city  will provide high quality housing with transport and education appropriate for today’s modern city style living.

The area will be called City Waterside. This is because the Caldon Canal runs through the middle of the area and because the site offers the first opportunity to create planned, modern, high quality city living in Stoke-on-Trent.

Six partners have created a City Waterside steering group that will work to ensure the area becomes a ‘best practice’ example of how to build a new, sustainable community in Stoke-on-Trent. Each organisation is committed to using its skills, finances and powers to ensure the vision is a success.

Th partners are English Partnerships, RENEW North Staffordshire, the Housing Corporation, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone and British Waterways.

The City Waterside area is made up of several large plots of cleared former factory land surrounding the Caldon Canal just half a mile from the city centre. The site includes many valuable heritage buildings and it is set on a hill with spectacular views over the countryside. It is also in the middle of the City Centre South area of major intervention where RENEW North Staffordshire is prioritising regeneration of older housing.

The collaboration agreement commits each of the partners to working together to promote high quality design, high environmental standards, community involvement, high standard affordable housing and to make best use of the physical assets like buildings, the canal and the hillside. A masterplan for the area has been commisioned from EDAW.

City Waterside is intended to set the highest standards for other developments in North Staffordshire and to be an example to the rest of the UK of successful regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent.

Paul Spooner, English Partnerships regional director for the North West and West Midlands, said, "City Waterside will show how Stoke-on-Trent can make use of its unique heritage and location to create something very special."