Vacant land next to the cricket club could become £20m industry jobs hub

 

VACANT land beside a new bypass road could be transformed into a £20 million business park.

 

The privately-owned 19-acre plot near Sandyford is being marketed nationally as a new development site called Tunstall Link.

 

Half of the area, which straddles the Tunstall Northern Bypass and adjoins Sandyford Cricket Club, has already been granted outline planning permission.

 

Approval has been given for it to be transformed into industrial units, distribution warehouses, research and development facilities and car showrooms.

 

The other half is still in the process of being cleared, but has also been earmarked for potential employment use.

 

 

And it means redevelopment would be carried out in two phases.

 

The first phase, the site which already has the outline permission, is valued at about £13 million and would involve six plots, ranging in size from two-thirds of an acre to four acres.

 

Tunstall councillor Lee Wanger welcomed the plans for the site, which had become a magnet for gypsies and fly-tippers in recent years.

 

He said the Tunstall Link site would appeal to developers because of its regional and national transport links.

 

Mr Wanger added: "There is very good access to that site now because of the bypass and I am all for it being developed.

 

"We have had a lot of problems with fly-tipping on that site and it's no good just leaving it lying vacant.

 

"However, I think people would want to see a high-quality development on there – not just more big sheds."

 

But Sandyford resident Brian Burgess said he fears the proposed developments will be out of place in the area.

 

The 63-year-old, who lives in Russell Place, said: "If it's used for big sheds and car showrooms it will simply destroy more green land around here.

 

"First we had a new housing estate next to this site, then the road came through, and now we're going to have lots of industrial units.

 

"It wouldn't be so bad if we knew they were going to be filled, but from past experience these developers just build them and leave them standing empty."

 

He added: "I've got nothing against creating more jobs in the area, but that is dependent on businesses buying these units, and that isn't happening at the moment."

 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's member for regeneration, councillor Brian Ward, said the authority will be watching the Tunstall Link site closely to ensure any development fits in with the overall regeneration masterplan for the city.

 

He said: "We have got no real control over that site because we don't own the land, but whoever buys it would have to apply for planning permission.

 

"Any development is also going to have to fit in with the area's needs and existing regeneration plans."