Business leaders and politicians from Stoke-on-Trent are calling on The Chancellor to commit to the £73.5m worth of transport and regeneration bids that have been submitted for the city.
Rishi Sunak is set to reveal his Autumn Budget on Wednesday, October 27.
Now Stoke-on-Trent MPs, Jack Brereton, Jonathan Gullis and Jo Gideon along with Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Abi Brown, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP chairman Alun Rogers and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce CEO Sara Williams have written a joint letter to Mr Sunak to "emphasise the importance of securing all our Levelling Up bids developed by the City of Stoke-on-Trent."
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As part of the Powering-up Stoke-on-Trent Prospectus, four bids were put forward earlier this year including:
- £20 million towards the city centre regeneration area, centred on the old Hanley bus station and the East-West precinct;
- £16 million towards the comprehensive redevelopment of the Goods Yard behind Stoke Rail Station;
- £20 million securing the regeneration of key heritage buildings across the city;
- £17.5 million to fund improvements to the city's bus network.
The letter states: "These bids are a matter of great importance to our city which over the years has seen a concerning level of deprivation. We passionately believe that all four bids, delivered as a whole, complement each other, and maximise returns on existing Government investment."
It adds: "If our Government is committed to a levelling up agenda, then it is important that areas such as Stoke-on-Trent are given this funding.
"The confidence of the city is growing, and the ambitions and aspirations of left-behind communities have started to grow with it. Stoke-on-Trent is on the brink of transformation from a city in relentless decline to one of optimism, opportunity and sustainable growth. Our bids provide the needed impetus for realising this success.
"Stoke-on-Trent now has strong leadership on the city council, three local MPs, local business owners and organisations who are committed to levelling up our city. We strongly believe that the funding for the bids put forward will help bring the much-needed opportunities and further investment into the area."
