Social impact developers Capital & Centric submit plans to create a £60m urban quarter – Goods Yard – next to Stoke-on-Trent’s train station, with new images of the plans released. Capital & Centric are working in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring forward the landmark project.
The developers recently consulted on plans for Goods Yard, which will create a mixed-use community featuring new homes, works spaces, shops, bars, cafes and a new public square at the Swift House site. The project recently received £16m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund – one of three regeneration projects to benefit in Stoke-on-Trent up to the value of £56m – the second highest amount awarded in the UK.
The planning application details an exciting future for the site – packed full of design features to bring the space alive and transform the tired industrial buildings into a vibrant, urban quarter.
Plans include Goods Yard Living, which will feature over 170 design-led Build to Rent apartments – a mix of one, two and three bedroom 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.
“We’ve been floored with the reaction from Stoke-on-Trent and the positivity shown for the Goods Yard. We’ve designed every inch of the site to create a genuine community, with design-led new homes surrounded by new public spaces, shops, work spaces, bars and cafes.
“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.”
Tim Heatley, Co-founder, Capital & Centric
The Goods Yard Square – a public square open to everyone – will include seating, gardens and spaces for pop-up events, with pedestrian and cycle links to the surrounding area. Capital & Centric also plan to restore the derelict Network Rail signal box into a café bar; restore the locally-listed, brick vaulted, below ground warehouse to create a combined workspace and leisure venue; and re-open the waters edge to the public, creating a potential mooring point for visiting canal boats or a water taxi.
A contemporary building – The Pavilion – with an industrial feel will provide 5,000 sq ft of floor area in a double height space, which will be made available for workspace and/or leisure uses. A 150-bed hotel will also be delivered in Phase 2.
Located next to Stoke-on-Trent train station – making it HS2 connected – and on the doorstep of Staffordshire University, the Trent and Mersey Canal and the A500, the site is ideal for commuters, students, visitors and businesses.
“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.
“Obviously the Goods Yard was the focus of one of our successful Levelling Up Fund bids and it’s exciting that Capital & Centric have kept the momentum going by submitting their planning application. This is a HS2 connected site with a massive amount of potential, and one we have been pushing forward as a fantastic development opportunity to the market for the last four years. These things don’t just happen overnight or without a lot of hard work behind the scenes so to now be at the stage where a planning application has gone in is a fantastic sign of progress in itself and very encouraging.
“There are so many great things happening across the city right now, and many more projects in the pipeline that will transform derelict sites and disused buildings into thriving places to live, work and play. Stoke-on-Trent is open for business and we will continue to push for the very best for the city and our residents.”
Cllr Abi Brown, leader of the city council
Submitting the planning application comes as the existing warehouse at the site come alive recently for Art Slam. The charity event – raising funds for the Macari Foundation – saw local artists battle it out to create the most popular piece – with painting and pottery, DJ sets and drinks. Capital & Centric is also on the hunt for pop ups to use the space in the meantime.
