Pottery giant Steelite International has been given the green light to build a new warehouse and showroom complex next to its current factory in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent.
The two-storey, 6,172sq metre development will also include meeting rooms and offices, a boardroom, entrance lobby and a security lodge.
In addition, a 44-space car park will be provided adding to the existing 228 spaces at Steelite’s factory in Middleport.
It will be built on a vacant site on Newcastle Street following the demolition of 129 terrace homes and former access roads that served the residential properties.
Steelite is looking to build the extension to help retain and expand pottery manufacturing within its historic home of Stoke-on-Trent.
A planning officer report linked to the application stated: “The development itself may not necessarily create a large number of jobs per se, but it does, by way of its natural association with the existing Steelite operation help to ensure that the company’s offering of some 700+ jobs remain based in the city – and this is, of course, a weight in favour of the scheme.”
Members of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Planning Committee – Development Management approved the scheme unanimously.
