Historic Stoke factory to get new lease of life
The neglected Spode Works site could welcome housing, restaurants and even padel courts
Plans to transform a historic pottery factory in Stoke are underway.
Spode Works, the neglected factory site, could be welcoming homes, restaurants and even padel courts under plans by developer Capital&Centric.
Today concludes Capital&Centric's public consultation, where they have asked Spode residents what they'd most like to see introduced to the 10-acre site.
Tom Wilmot, Managing Director of the developer, said: “Spode Works is packed with proper Stoke history and character, so the aim is simple - keep what makes it special and open it up so people can actually enjoy it again."
Department Manager Johnny Nolan has loftier ambitions - putting Spode on the map.
Nolan said: "I was in a presentation this morning - I asked some of the students if they'd ever heard of Spode and they hadn't.
"So who knows, this time in 12, 18 months, we'll ask some of the students if they've ever heard of Spode, and they'll know exactly what it is."
The plans propose a new public footpath through the China Halls, connecting the centre of the site to Kingsway.
Gordon House will also be demolished, revealing the full façade of China Hall, while Spode Rose Garden will be extended.
Spode Works used to be an important ceramics hub, producing fine bone china.
But soon it could be home to a padel court, if Club de Padel co-founder Lucy Noone Blake has her way.
Blake said: "It's got so much history, you feel like there's a life already lived here, and we love the idea of being part of the next iteration of this building."