New £60m urban quarter could be coming to Stoke-on-Trent

The space will have new homes, shops, bars and cafés

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 25th Nov 2021
Last updated 25th Nov 2021

Plans have been submitted for a new £60m urban quarter to be built next to Stoke-on-Trent train station.

The Goods Yard, a project from Capital & Centric, will have new houses, work spaces, shops, bars, cafes and a new public square.

The Goods Yard Square would be turned into a public space perfect for pop-up events, while there are plans to restore the derelict Network Rail signal box into a café bar.

Capital & Centric also intend to restore the waterside warehouse in order to re-open the water's edge to the public.

See the full list of plans for the Goods Yard:

  • The Goods Yard Living: Featuring over 170 design-led apartments for rent, with a mix of 1,2 and 3-bed homes. The new building is planned to feature private resident gardens, as well as resident facilities such as a café or bike repair shop, alongside other uses such as a gym or convenience store.
  • Signal Box: A café-bar in what is currently a derelict Network Rail signal box.
  • Vaults Warehouse: Restoration of the stunning, locally-listed, brick vaulted, below ground warehouse to create a combined work space and leisure venue.
  • Canalside Jetty: Opening up the water’s edge to the public and creating a potential mooring point for visiting canal boats or a water taxi.
DJs will play at an Arts Slam in the Goods Yard this weekend
  • The Pavilion: A contemporary building with an industrial feel that will provide 5,000sq.ft. of floor area in a double height space that will be made available for workspace and/or leisure uses.
  • The Goods Yard Square: A bustling public square at the heart of the site, with seating, gardens and spaces for pop-up events, with pedestrian and cycle links to the surrounding area
  • Hotel: A 150-bed hotel (to be delivered as part of Phase 2)

The existing vaults warehouse will be turned into a venue this weekend for Art Slam, a charity event that will see local artists compete to create the most popular artwork.

There will be painting, pottery and DJ sets at the event on Saturday 27 November.

A new-look city

The Goods Yard project took another step forward recently after receiving £16 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund.

The fund is one of three regeneration projects which Stoke-on-Trent is benefitting from, with the city receiving a total of £56 from their bids - the second highest amount awarded in the UK.

Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric, said:

“Our design really celebrates the heritage of the area and the awesome site location, from the planned detailing in the public square – a nod to the site’s historic railway connection – to the re-opening of the water’s edge and stunning vaulted warehouse for people to enjoy.

"This is a real moment for Stoke-on-Trent. People are excited for the Goods Yard and we can’t wait to deliver a special community that people can be really proud of.”

Abi Brown, leader of the city council, said:

“Being successful with not one, not two but three bids to the Levelling Up Fund was a fantastic result for our city, and a real vote of confidence in the direction we are moving.

"The funding will turbo charge our regeneration plans and provide new jobs, homes and investment into our local economy."

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