History

1973-1976: The 240ft Unity House is built as a base for the city's municipal workers ahead of Stoke-on-Trent becoming part of Staffordshire County Council.

1992: Most of the council's workers relocate to the new £24 million Civic Centre which had been controversially built in Stoke, next to the town hall and democratic buildings. Unity House is left empty.

1997: Stoke-on-Trent City Council becomes a unitary authority, regaining control of major functions like education and social care.

2005: Brick-by-brick demolition of the 18-storey Unity House begins as regeneration quango Advantage West Midlands earmarks the land as ideal for a new professional quarter dubbed the Central Business District (CBD).

March 2009: Genr8 is announced as the developer for the CBD, while the city council outlines controversial plans to outsource up to 500 council jobs to a private firm to 'anchor' the development and attract further tenants.

APRIL 2009: Disputed plans to outsource council jobs to kick-start the development are widened to include up to 800 staff.

FEBRUARY 2010: The development hits further controversy as it emerges the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership had used an £850-a-day consultant to oversee the scheme without following procurement procedures.

MARCH 2010: New council chief executive John van de Laarschot pulls the plug on the outsourcing plans over concerns they are not cost effective. Officers warn a new anchor tenant must be found to save the scheme from collapse.

OCTOBER 2010: A planning application is submitted for the CBD as the search for a main tenant continues.

MARCH 2011: Stoke-on-Trent City Council gives planning approval for the redevelopment.

FEBRUARY 2012: Plans are uncovered to sell off dozens of council buildings to raise £25 million over four years. The Sentinel learns that consultants hired to review council property included the Civic Centre in their review.

APRIL 2012: The Sentinel reveals the council is considering reviving its plans to move some of its own staff to the CBD to accelerate its development.

MAY 2012: Plans are unveiled to offload the Civic Centre and make the CBD the city council's primary base in the city.

Taken from The Sentinel