Former Stoke-on-Trent pottery site welcomes latest residents

Residents have started to move into new homes which have been built on a former pottery site.

Ten three-bed properties and 12 two-bed apartments have been constructed on land off Newport Lane / Furlong Lane in Burslem which was formerly occupied by Wood & Sons’ Stanley Pottery Works and Dalehall Mills.

Almost half of the 22 new homes are already full after residents started to move in last month. (November)

Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and planning, said: “This development reflects our commitment to raising housing standards in the city and ensuring our residents have access to good quality, affordable homes.

“There are many brownfield sites across Stoke-on-Trent which have remained vacant for a long time and we are working hard to enable them to be redeveloped and put to good use in the near future.

“We will continue to work in partnership with landowners and key stakeholders to bring forward other long-term vacant sites and transform derelict land across the city.”

These latest homes mark the completion of the overall re-development of the Newport Lane / Furlong Lane site which is now home to 99 properties in total.

The site was one of nine identified for redevelopment in 2018 after Stoke-on-Trent City Council was awarded £10 million from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to facilitate the building of around 1,100 new homes on derelict brownfield land.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of the city council and ward member for Burslem, said: “When I visited this site I was impressed by the quality and size of these properties. They will make lovely new homes for couples and growing families.

“This development is a prime example of what can be achieved and I am confident this can be replicated at other key sites across the city.”

Martin Sharkey, construction director at Seddon Housing Partnerships, said: “It’s fantastic to see this unused brownfield site transformed into much-needed new homes and to be able to bring these much-loved locations back to life.

“Seddon have been working in the area for over 70 years and it has been a pleasure to work with the council again to deliver this mix of two and three-bed homes for the Stoke-on-Trent community.”

Ross Miller-Green, Senior Manager - Infrastructure Grants Project Management at Homes England, said: “Newport Lane/ Furlong Lane is an excellent example of how funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping to unlock much needed new homes and create thriving places people can be proud of. 

“It's brilliant to see this site completed, and we look forward to supporting the council to achieve its housing ambitions across the city." 

The city council is committed to raising living standards in Stoke-on-Trent by providing accommodation which meets the statutory minimum for housing under the authority’s obligations to the Decent Homes Standard 2006.