Plan to unlock city's prosperity taken to No 10

A delegation from Stoke-on-Trent has visited Downing Street to deliver an ambitious plan to transform the city's economy and "unlock prosperity".

The 19-page Future 100 prospectus was drawn up by the city council in consultation with business leaders, academics and MPs.

It sets out five "missions" to improve standards of living, opportunities and aspirations for citizens.

"It's not about going to ministers with a begging bowl but about showing we stand ready to do our bit for the country and deliver change," said Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell.

According to Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Jane Ashworth, deep-rooted problems holding back growth in the city stemmed back to austerity and lack of investment in infrastructure.

Targets in the prospectus include reducing the number of children living in poverty, creating 5,000 jobs and building 5,000 homes, all by 2030, with the support of targeted government investment.

Ashworth said she was confident the delegation and prospectus could convince the government "we are capable, ready, willing and able to make a real difference".

"Investment is Stoke-on-Trent is good not only for the city but for the country," she added.

Stakeholders involved in the city vision include Staffordshire police, the University Hospitals North Midlands trust, academy trusts and local charities, but private employers are not on the list.

The document includes targets to tackle problems linked to deprivation, aligned with national government priorities.

The five missions encompass:

• Securing economic growth through investment in road infrastructure and creative sectors including the struggling ceramics industry
• Delivering clean energy by getting more people travelling on buses, increasing the number of passenger journeys by a third
• Regeneration of brownfield sites to meet the area's housing targets. There is also a plan to gain UNESCO creative city status to reclaim heritage assets
• Removing barriers to opportunity through investment, making qualifications more accessible and improving educational attainment for children and adults
• Improving the health and wellbeing of the population and increasing average life expectancy of citizens by two years

Delegate Vicky Gwynne works for the city council helping different groups connect, following the fallout from the August 2024 riots.

She met two prime ministers in her previous role at charity Middleport Matters, and believes it is important to tell powerful people about Stoke.

"I think we should be telling them about our strengths and opportunities, and that we're not a left-behind city, we want the opportunity to move forward," she said.

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