Businesses and stakeholders based at Spode have welcomed the city council’s announcement that the site’s regeneration will include them and will focus on creative and ‘createch’ uses.
Daily Focus reported yesterday that work will start immediately on the next steps of the project to restore the historic site in Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, back to use.
Next week, Stoke-on-Trent City Council‘s cabinet is expected to sign off a three-phase programme of works to focus on preserving the site’s significant heritage, making a createch village to attract more creative and digital businesses to join those already on the site.
Work will also improve access from the town centre and greening the whole site with a set of sustainability measures.
The first phase will be delivered between now and May 2026 and includes expansion of office space already provided by developers Dog & Bone – behind the Potbank Hotel, the Factory Floor events space and to house creative businesses and what they describe as “other significant tenants.”
Nicola Renny, operational lead at F E A S T E D, the fine dining and community support business based at Spode, said: “Here at F E A S T E D we welcome the news that the Spode site is being driven forward with a community led approach and a desire for it to be collectively owned.
“People and community are at the heart of everything we do here. We feel this approach will best preserve the incredible history and heritage the wonderful Spode site holds.”
Claybody Theatre has brought sell out audiences and locally-written and produced theatre to the Dipping House venue at Spode and has already welcomed its first touring theatre company.
Joint artistic director Deb McAndrew said: “We are thrilled that The Dipping House (building 8R) will be included in the first phase of the Spode Development Plan.
“Funding will enable essential building works and improvements that will make the space more comfortable, safe and accessible for audiences and visitors.
“In the first year of our tenancy The Dipping House has proven to be an exciting and popular arts and community venue. In addition to Claybody productions and activities, we have had many requests for a range of uses.
“We’re very confident that money invested in this building will pay dividends to the wider community and the regeneration of this important heritage site.”
The British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) is closely aligned with Spode and has a public access studio in Church Street, Stoke, on the town centre edge of the site.
Clare Wood, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the BCB, said: “The collaborative approach to defining the development of the Spode Works site has been invigorating and positive. The development report is informed by the views and experience of cultural organisations, businesses and individuals who are familiar with the Spode site.
“This has led to a plan which feels ambitious, achievable, fitting, and most importantly, it is a plan that understands and sympathetically addresses the social and creative heritage of this very special place.
“The British Ceramics Biennial has a long-standing relationship with Spode and it is wonderful that we will be an important part of the site’s future with our BCB Studio and Clay Building and through delivery of future programmes in association with the site.”
Advertising agency Lesniak Swann moved into a refurbished building on the Spode site last year to join the growing number of creative businesses on the site.
Founding partner and Managing Director Alex Swann said: “I’m pleased to see the council is taking positive actions to move forward and that the on-site community will have a voice in their future plans.
“Some of the previous decisions were farcical, so hopefully this new direction will get the growing creative hub back on track.”
