Genr8 Developments has been selected from a shortlist of three companies to lead the regeneration of the 1.2 million sq ft (111,484sq m) Central Business District in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

International urban designers Gehl Architects and RHWL were appointed by Genr8 to draw up plans for the scheme, which includes 60,000sq ft (5,574sq m) of leisure and retail space, 250 hotel bedrooms and 230,000sq ft (21,368sq m) of public space. The North Staffordshire Regeneration Company (NSRP), together with partners Stoke-on-Trent City Council (STCC) and Advantage West Midlands (AVM), announced the appointment of Genr8 at MIPIM, the international property summit, on 12 March.

Genr8 is a joint venture between Chelsfield Partners and the former executive chair of Amec Developments, John Early, together with other directors from Amec. The company's development team for the Stoke-on-Trent scheme also involves Arup, and sustainability consultants, Atelier Ten. Early said: "We look forward to working with the NSRP and its partners to create a central business district that will put Stoke-on-Trent firmly on the national map as a location to do business.

"To do this, we will focus on quality, design excellence and integrating the central business district with the city's other regeneration plans." A development agreement is expected to be signed by early summer, and it is hoped that work on the first phase of the scheme can get underway by the end of 2010.