£31 million set to be pumped into biggest affordable housing project in city’s history

Extra money is being earmarked for a brand-new multi-million-pound housing estate, made up of almost 120 homes, on a former Stoke-on-Trent school site.

More than £31 million is now set to be spent on a developing and transforming the former Brookhouse Green Primary School in Wellfield Road, Bentilee, into 117 affordable homes.  

It marks the biggest single investment in an affordable housing project in the city's history. The brownfield development will consist of a series of different types of homes, from single-occupier bungalows to three-bedroom family houses.

Plans to develop the homes on the brownfield site were approved in April as part of the city council's mission to ensure everyone has access to a decent home.

The authority has entered into a pre-construction services agreement with developer John Graham Construction Ltd (GRAHAM) – and work is expected to start on site by 2026.

The national company will work in partnership with the council to ensure that homes are of high quality and energy efficient.

The council's cabinet is now set to approve a budget of just over £31 million for the project when it meets later this month. Funding will come from a number of spending pots and grants, as well as the authority's Housing Revenue Account (HRA). In addition to the new homes, the money will pay for site preparation and transforming the brownfield site ready for housing. 

The redevelopment of the Wellfield Road site, which was deemed surplus to requirements in 2020, is also being supported by a £1.8 million government grant from the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

The scheme forms part of the council's new housing pipeline strategy, which - if approved by cabinet later this month - will see nearly 5,000 homes built across the city in the next few years.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is a history-making housing project, which will deliver the types of affordable homes that many people are crying out for in the city.

“It is also one of many schemes we will be looking to deliver over the next few years as we make housing – ranging from single occupier bungalows up to larger family homes – a real focus. We will also be making it a priority to transform brownfield and current derelict sites as we regenerate our city.

“By working together, we’re making great strides to bring much-needed new homes to the city to ensure families can live their best lives now and into the future.”