Stoke on Trent markets former Spode Works site

A MAJOR development in the centre of Stoke-On-Trent has been placed on the market by the city council.

The 15-acre site comprises the former Spode Works, Civic Centre and car park, Stoke Town Hall, King’s Hall, Kingsway car park and Gordon House site.

The landmark town centre site is owned by the city council; the authority having acquired the former pottery factory in 2010.

A marketing brochure has been produced which includes a site plan, details of possible uses and where expressions of interest should be sent.  

The council said the site formed a key part of the vision for Stoke town, developing it as a dynamic quarter of the city centre, connecting the activity of the main line railway station and the emerging University Quarter with the town centre.

The vision is part of the council’s Mandate for Change, a pledge to make Stoke-on-Trent an exciting place to live and for businesses to locate to.   

The council said it envisaged a range of uses for the site including retail, leisure, hotel and residential, together with other uses such as studios, workshops, gallery space, exhibition space, visitor attractions and leisure.

The authority said the marketing would help establish the appetite of the business community to provide these types of amenities and the next step will be a formal process for identifying a preferred development partner, set for 2013.

Stoke-On-Trent City Council leader, Cllr Mohammed Pervez, said: “The former Spode Works site is a landmark in Stoke town and is at the centre of the 15-acre site.

“It was the location of the pottery for more than 200 years and approximately half the 10-acre site has already been cleared, with the remainder including a range of historic buildings some with great heritage merit.  

“The marketing of this site demonstrates our desire to progress speedily with the redevelopment of it and the regeneration of Stoke town.

“This is an exciting development opportunity; we believe this will generate interest from a large number of developers.”

The Mandate for Change was launched in July last year with the aim of transforming Stoke-on-Trent. It is based on four ‘pillars’: making Stoke-on-Trent the place to bring business; supporting and developing existing businesses; working with people to promote independence and healthy lives; and making Stoke-on-Trent a great city to live in.