Plans to regenerate part of a town centre and create new shop and office developments are moving forward.
The proposals for York Place, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, involve two new four-storey buildings with food and drink outlets, or retail use, on the ground floor with office units above.
More than £3 million has been allocated for the purchase of the shopping centre, demolition work and to help move the affected businesses, after the Newcastle Borough Council successfully bid to the Department of Levelling up and Housing Communities’ Future High Street Fund.
The council acquired the site – situated between Ironmarket and Merrial Street – in March 2021 and is now seeking planning permission for the scheme with a decision expected by spring. It is hoped demolition of existing buildings can start this summer.
The authority is working with remaining tenants in the current buildings to find them alternative premises nearby.
Stephen Sweeney, Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for finance, town centres and growth, said: “This is all part of our wider work to regenerate the town centre and position it at the heart of economic, social and community life in the borough.
“Once approved, these two flexible, contemporary buildings and a new public space will add to the mix of the town centre and help create greater footfall in what is currently an underused part of town.”
The project ties in with £30 million regeneration plans for the nearby Ryecroft area, which include a 100-bed hotel, 90 homes for over-55s, the headquarters of Aspire Housing and a 450-space multi-storey car park.
Great ‘ideas’, but once again, missing a great opportunity.
Why not turn the vacant shops in the centre into a mix of shops and homes so people living there will ‘shop local’.
Coffee bars and offices aren’t the way forward when the future is 4 day weeks and home working.
It is missing a great opportunity for inevitive thinking.