Controversial plans to develop Stoke-on-Trent’s Spode site under a city council flagship £10 million Levelling Up project have been shelved and will be replaced.
The decision follows an independent “due diligence” review by auditors Grant Thornton after concerns raised by a third party relating to “current activities” by the council’s proposed developer Nimrod Holdings Group and “its owners”.
The application, which aimed to build more than 100 apartments and office accommodation on the historic six acre site, had already been resubmitted last year after complaints that the proposed developers had not carried out proper consultation.
The bid attracted widespread opposition as part of the planning process.
Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced a “stocktake” and developers, including Nimrod Holdings Group, will be invited to submit new bids against a brief to be drawn up by a potential fresh partnership between the city council, Homes England and Historic England.
It is understood the existing application has not yet been considered as part of the planning process and will be frozen or withdrawn.
A city council spokesman said: “Over the next 8-10 weeks, Stoke-on-Trent City Council will work with the national agencies to review the overall masterplan for the former pottery site in Stoke town, and make sure that the proposed restoration and development approach will make best use of the £10 million of Levelling Up resources being made available for the scheme by the Government.
“The review will also allow the council to consider how other resources, such as Homes England and Heritage Lottery funding, could be used to secure further regeneration of the site in future. At the end of the review, the council will then re-market the Levelling Up opportunity against a revised brief.”
Jeff Nash, director of developer Dog and Bone Properties, which has already brought parts of the Spode site back into use as business studios, a hotel and popular restaurant and venue, said the news was positive for the site and reflected the community’s concerns about the Nimrod proposals.
He said: “One of the problems with the scheme was the complete lack of consultation and the fact it never had any support from existing stakeholders on the site. A number of conflicts with existing businesses were never resolved.
“I don’t think the proposals were ever the right solution for the site, and what’s needed now is a clear alternative vision.
“We hope any future proposals will take into account the views of these important stakeholders and build on the successes of the businesses already based here.”
Local heritage activist and writer Dave Proudlove also welcomed the news.
He said: “I’m delighted to hear the news that a new approach to the ongoing regeneration of Spode China Works is now on the cards.
“The Spode site is very special, and it deserves to be treated as such. The site is home to a growing creative community which is vitally important to the city’s future, and it needs to be nurtured.
“Therefore any future development needs to respect this, as well as its historic environment and unique atmosphere. I look forward to seeing what’s next.”
