Two 11-storey apartment blocks will be next Smithfield phase

Two 11-storey apartment blocks will form the next phase of the Smithfield city centre development.Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to invest millions of pounds in the ‘high quality’ residential scheme through its Fortior Homes housing company.All 277 one and two-bedroom flats in the towers will be for private rent, with young professionals and those currently commuting into the city among the expected tenants.The buildings will also include communal gardens, a concierge service and ground floor commercial units, such as a gym and shops.Smithfield developer Genr8 is due to submit a planning application for the apartment blocks next month, and the first one could be ready for occupation by 2019.Genr8, which is due to start work on a Hilton Garden Inn hotel on the Smithfield site later this year, will also seek outline planning permission for two further office blocks, which would be between four and six storeys.Both the council and Genr8 says the scheme will meet the existing demand for city centre living in Stoke-on-Trent.It is not known how much the council will pay for the towers, but the money will come out of the £55 million capital pot already earmarked for Fortior Homes.Council leaders say the investment in the residential scheme will generate income through rent, council tax and the New Homes Bonus.