Smithfield’s new multi-storey car park has now reached its highest point of construction with concrete poured on the eighth floor in March ahead of the car park’s planned completion in the summer of 2022.
Car park developer, Genr8 Developments visited site today alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council deputy leader Councillor Daniel Jellyman to take a look at the progress made on the new city centre project.
Located just off Potteries Way, the car park – which will be owned and operated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council – can hold up to 730 cars including electrical vehicle charging points supporting the rising numbers of electric vehicles and encouraging the sustainability drive in Stoke.
The car park is eight levels high with a two-lane entrance off Cannon Place for cars, Motorbikes and bicycles will use an entrance off Cambridge Street.
Joel Chandler, Development Manager at Genr8 Development’s, said: “It’s been amazing to see how Smithfield has grown over the past 7 years, and the new multi-storey is yet another important part of the Smithfield masterplan that will not only help Smithfield residents and tenants, but also the wider town centre.
“It was vital to us that we were able to support the gradual shift towards sustainable, electric cars too, which is why we have included vehicle charging points in the car park and future proofed the design to ensure we can fit out additional spaces with new electrical charging points taking emerging technologies into consideration’’
, Genr8 Developments’ Smithfield scheme is currently home to the 140 bed Hilton Garden Inn hotel, 151 Build-To-Rent apartments, Clayworks and two office blocks – 1 Smithfield and 2 Smithfield, which combined hold 210,000 sq. ft of Grade A office space.
The neighbourhood is also set to welcome a new co-working office development, Smithfield Works, which is set to complete in mid-March with a new wave of businesses expected to move to the Smithfield.
The new car park will provide facilities to drivers visiting Smithfield, residents and office occupiers at Smithfield and visitors to the wider city centre region.
Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for infrastructure, regeneration and heritage, said: “Like all our council-owned parking places, all surpluses fund frontline highway and environmental services, so this car park is going to keep generating much-needed income for the city that will benefit residents and taxpayers for years to come. Improving the quality and availability of parking for residents, businesses and visitors in the city centre is something that has needed addressing for some time and this is another massive step in the regeneration and development of the area.
“Investments like this multi-storey car park, making sure we have first class infrastructure as the city centre continues to grow and improve, is absolutely vital to supporting the local economy and our ambitions. With hundreds of people working across One and Two Smithfield, the Clayworks apartment block that is fully let and the Hilton Garden Inn hotel up and running, the Smithfield development has been a major success and this continues the story of growth.
“This state-of-the-art car park is being built with the ability to fit out new electrical charging and emerging technologies, that will support not just what is on offer now but the next 50 years and more. And with £20 million secured in Levelling Up funding from the Government to develop the nearby Etruscan Square, which will include a purpose-built arena and event space for the city centre and other fantastic facilities, there’s plenty of development happening in the area where people will need parking.”
Smithfield is an integral part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s regeneration agenda.
Located in the heart of Hanley, the mixed-use development is a place of work, living and leisure. The development is focused on bringing the city together by connecting new and existing areas.