This policy brief features a successful solution to low economic productivity through the development of a Central Business District (CBD). This was achieved in the 2010s in Stoke-on-Trent – a medium-size polycentric industrial city in central England, coping with economic restructuring and demographic decline. Building on local knowledge and the stakeholders’ experience in implementing this project, this brief demonstrates how to develop a solid evidence base, design and build a CBD that works effectively for the whole city. The key lesson learnt is that to build a CBD, one should utilise non-traditional co-production and experimental methods for managing a major project in an uncertain and risky environment, combining technical skills and expertise, whilst tapping into the day-to-day knowledge and experience of the local community. The brief offers a set of policy recommendations on enabling mechanisms for an effective CBD delivery.

3S RECIPE is part of the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe's ERA-NET Cofund Smart Urban Futures Call (ENSUF). This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 857160.