Top developer on board to create Stoke-on-Trent's new Urban Quarter
It'll completely transform the old Swift House site next to Stoke train station
Last updated 1st Mar 2021
There's a major boost for Stoke-on-Trent as plans to create a new Urban Quarter get underway.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working with award-winning social impact developer Capital & Centric to redevelop the area next to Stoke train station.
It'll see the Swift House site, which is owned by the council, renamed The Goods Yard and transformed with around 180 new homes, a 150 bed hotel, 25,000 sq ft of workspaces and 10,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.
The plans include demolishing the existing building but keeping and reimagining its locally listed, vaulted basement, which historically served as a goods yard and interchange between the railway and the canal. It will be opened up to the public as a workspace and leisure venue that will be known as Vaults Warehouse. While plans continue to be drawn up, the intention is to attract pop-up operators to the site as soon as possible to start bringing it back to life.
An animated outdoor public space will link the development to the wider area, connecting The Goods Yard with the train station and canal, with an ambition to create a water-taxi to Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium just one mile away.
Cllr Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’ve seen so many positive and exciting developments in recent years but for me, this is the one that really grabs the headlines and will redefine the future of Stoke-on-Trent. There was a time in the past when we could only have dreamed of attracting an award-winning developer like Capital and Centric to come and work in the city, so I think it speaks volumes for how far we have come, our ambition and the direction we are moving in.
“There is no doubt in the huge potential of this site – one of the most prominent, underdeveloped pieces of land along the HS2 route nationally. It’s location, next to so many key sites and the superb road, rail and canal links make the development an excellent opportunity for a range of occupiers.
“This will be an iconic and important development not just for Stoke-on-Trent but the whole of the Midlands"
"It will make people sit up and take notice of the resurgence that is happening here. A waterside food and drink offer with mooring facilities for passing canal boats would be a Premier League attraction for any city and it’s exactly what we want and what we deserve."
Cllr Brown said “We started looking at ways to transform this warehouse with its secret basement back in 2017 and we’ve taken our time to find a partner who shares our social values and will promote the use of local supply chains, training and employment."
"This is a true once in a lifetime opportunity for Stoke-on-Trent to have something bold and unique."
The council has entered into a pre-construction partnership with Bowmer & Kirkland construction group, who have appointed Capital & Centric as a development partner to work up detailed designs for the development of the site. The project is set to start as early as next summer and would take around two-and-a-half years to complete.
Capital & Centric is famed for its high quality and bold designs and focus on creating a positive social impact.
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric, said “We’re super excited to be undertaking our first project in Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve got the opportunity to create something really special here that can transform this part of the city. This will be a new urban quarter, with design led homes, a hotel, and spaces for local businesses to locate. We’re also looking to open the stunning basement vaults that sit alongside the canal up to the public, with maybe a waterside bar or restaurant."