Network Space has secured unanimous planning approval for the second phase of its Tunstall Arrow development, providing an additional 109,250 sq. ft of industrial workspace on the 7.3-acre plot, and bringing an additional 200 jobs to the region.

Tunstall Arrow is a 28-acre former colliery site adjoining the A527 (James Brindley Way) in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, which was acquired by Network Space in 2013. The site is within close proximity of the A500, with access to Junction 16 of the M6 within minutes. 

This second phase will provide five detached, self-contained, units ranging from 13,000 up to 30,000 sq. ft. and bring the brownfield land back into long term employment use. The site transformation will include significant remediation work needed to address historic coal workings and disused mine shafts. Works should begin in Q3 this year.

The development will deliver high-specification business premises for industrial or distribution uses, building on the success of Phase One which opened early in 2019 and is fully let. These five units are already supporting hundreds of jobs within the 130,000 sq ft development; home to international businesses including: Dutch tool and equipment hire company Boels Rental, German global delivery service DHL Express, Australian fleet management company SG Fleet Group, Italian generator & equipment hire specialist Pramac-Generac and German balustrade manufacturer Q-railing.

Tunstall Arrow is being developed in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, as part of the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone covering 3.3 million sq. ft of commercial space across six key sites along the A500 corridor.

Simon Peters, Development Director at Network Space, said: "We are delighted to have secured planning for Phase Two of the Tunstall Arrow Enterprise Zone site. Our principal objective is to build on the success of Phase One that has enjoyed full occupancy since it opened. Demand for high quality, modern, employment space across the region certainly shows no sign of abating in the short to medium term.

He added: “Stoke-on-Trent City Council continues to be forward-thinking, recognising the potential of Tunstall Arrow to attract further inward investment and provide job opportunities for the city. This will help to secure the region’s reputation as one of the most sought-after areas for the industrial and logistic sectors and help address the acute shortage of employment space.”

Cllr Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Working with a number of partners, we have created one of the most successful enterprise zones in the country, generating hundreds of jobs and improving the local economy by £18.55m in gross value added.

“Development and business has continued at pace through the pandemic and today’s news for Phase Two of the Tunstall Arrow Enterprise Zone site further re-enforces that Stoke-on-Trent really is on the up. We continue to work to support businesses in the area and show them that this city is the place to base your business. It also very much fits with our ambitions through the Stoke-on-Trent prospectus which talks about one plan and one conversation to bring forward investment in key sectors.

“I look forward to seeing this next phase come forward and I believe it will be as successful as phase one, not only for the benefits it brings to the local community but for the jobs it directly creates in the area.”

Network Space has been providing industrial workspace and warehousing for almost 40 years and intends to deliver 2.5 million sq. ft of industrial property over the next five years.

The agents are Mounsey Chartered Surveyors, based in Stoke-on-Trent.