The View from Renew

"I oversee the implementation of the delivery programme, about £38million of Renew funds. We're starting to see some iconic projects come forward, not just the standard housebuilders' offer. It's not the easiest place to get to in terms of sharing a single vision but I think we're getting there. It takes so much time to start seeing anything happening on the ground. It's like any other regeneration project, it can take 5 years before you start seeing any measurable impact." Joanne (above left) is Renew's Interim Head of Programmes. Peter (above right) is Renew's Head of Resources.

"You have to be passionate to do this work because you get so much flak you'd start questioning why you were doing it otherwise. Some residents say 'why aren't you giving me the opportunity to move?', others say 'why are you making me move?' Some councillors say 'why are you doing it in my area?', others say 'why aren't you doing it in my area?'" Debbie (above), Renew Programme Manager for Knutton & Cross Heath.

"You get to meet so many people in my job, everything from Ministers of State down to Mrs Jones who lives on Wellington Street. The best part is meeting the community and getting to know them. They're such lovely people. The tough parts are probably also the people and the change they're going through because change is always difficult. It's hard sometimes to talk to them about that because they're finding it difficult to deal with and you can imagine it happening to yourself and it's quite an emotional thing so it can be difficult. But then you just have to look at the bigger picture and how it's going to be in the future and that one day it will be better." Alex (above), Renew PR & Communications Officer.

"I'm born and bred in Stoke-on-Trent and being part of such a fantastic regeneration programme is really important because in years to come I can step back and say I was part of that. I get a lot of satisfaction from it because I can see the bigger picture and how it's going to benefit everybody. I think artists and myself look at regeneration deep rooted and in-depth, but from different perspectives. I'm looking at it from a complete picture and artists may just concentrate on just one area of regeneration. Both of us aren't just looking at the surface though, we're looking at the foundations." Heather (above), Renew PR & Communications Officer.

"There's probably a dozen clearance areas on the go in City Centre south so there's a lot upset with that. But what gives you a smile is when someone moves into somewhere new and start appreciating that the quality of life is better, then you certainly think it's been worthwhile. We do far more refurbishments than we do demolitions. I think the ratio is about five to one but that never makes the papers. It's far more emotive and sells more papers if you focus on people who are upset by the clearance process. I think it's very true to say that in some of the clearance areas that we deal with it is the minority who are upset." Nick (above), Renew Programme Manager for City Centre South.

Tour of Regeneration Areas

We were at the Renew offices on Trinity Street on Friday 12 October and met Place Space & Identity artists and Renew programme managers responsible for the regeneration strategy in Hanley, Meir, Burslem, Newcastle and Coalville. Following an overview of Renew's plans for North Staffordshire presented by Phil Brundrett, we headed out for a mini-bus tour of the affected areas. First to Newport Lane in Burslem, where an eerie quiet hangs over rows and rows of boarded up terraces awaiting demolition.



In the back alleys we came across two demolition workers, Roy and Mike, knocking the walls down of an abandoned terrace.

"We've been asked to knock these walls down but to be honest
can't really see much wrong with them." Roy & Mike

Amongst the rows of boarded up terraces, occasional signs serve as a reminder that people continue to live here. Even the Cathedral Church Of Our Lady Of Grace asserts its existence with a panel on its front lawn (below right).

Then, we headed for Meir, an estate of 1700 properties containing 60% social housing. Here, Phil Brundrett explained the potential he saw in the area.

"If people are dying to move into areas like Congleton and Macclesfield
because of the greenery, just think what we can do here." Phil Brundrett

From Meir, we headed to the City Waterside project, described by Renew's Mike Sidebottom as "our jewell in the crown." The City Waterside website describes the development as "a pioneering urban neighbourhood in the heart of historic Stoke-on-Trent. Set on 120 acres (50 hectares) of land in a unique landscape - it will become home to a thriving, sustainable, mixed community."

Artists Impression of City Waterside

City Waterside under construction, with tour group in the background

City Waterside is the result of John Prescott's Design for Manufacture Competition challenging the housebuilding and development industry to create high-quality homes whilst reducing construction costs to around £60,000. The motivation is to provide first-time buyers with the opportunity of getting onto the housing ladder, even if they're very small properties. As Prescott said in 2005, "My £60,000 home competition has proved wrong those critics who claimed you can't have both quality and quantity. People deserve decent, affordable homes with good access to jobs, public services and green spaces."