Longton town centre is set to benefit from a major £1.9 million investment to improve public spaces, boost transport links and attract more visitors.
The Longton Improvement Scheme forms part of Stoke-on-Trent’s wider £34.6 million Transforming Cities Fund programme, combined with additional investment from the Bus Service Improvement Plan and the Levelling Up Fund.
The programme has already delivered upgrades around Stoke and Longton railway stations, as well as improvements to College Road.
The new scheme aims to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle, create more welcoming public spaces and strengthen connections to bus and rail services. The upgrades are also expected to reduce congestion and improve bus services.
The majority of improvements will be around Times Square and Baths Passage, as well as Strand Passage. Plans include a new public square in front of the old Town Hall, a redesigned junction in Times Square and converting part of Market Street to one-way traffic north-bound. Other enhancements include wider footways, red routes and new paving, lighting and tree planting.
Proposals for the project were shaped through public consultation over the summer, with feedback from residents helping to finalise the plans. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet is due to approve the scheme at a meeting on Tuesday, 16 September.
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “Longton has always been more than just a place on the map. It’s a proud town where people raise their families, open their shops, and greet their neighbours in the street.
“For generations, people here in Longton have worked hard and looked out for one another. And they deserve a town centre that works just as hard for them.”
He continued: “This is all about giving people a reason to believe in their town again, to feel proud when they bring their family or friends to visit. And if we get this right, the impact will last for years. Because when we invest in our people and our proud spaces, we build something far bigger than bricks and mortar.”
Further improvements to Longton railway station are being developed in partnership with Network Rail and East Midlands Rail and will be delivered as a separate phase of work.
