A major milestone has been hit in a town centre regeneration project transforming a former shopping centre into homes.
The Astley Place scheme in Newcastle-under-Lyme has officially topped out, reaching its full height with the structure now complete.
Once finished, it will feature 42 one and two-bed apartments for rent, 11,150 sq ft of space for independent shops, bars and cafes, a new music venue and ‘green hangouts.’
Developers Capital&Centric marked the milestone on site with project partners and the construction team.
Development Director Martin Crews said: “Getting Astley Place to this stage is a huge moment for everyone involved. It’s been sat there underused for years, so seeing it now at full height and really taking shape is something else.
“As a UK-first, this is really special for me, we’re taking what was a shopping centre and completely reimagining it into homes. It shows there’s a different way to bring town centres back to life, beyond relying on retail, by creating innovative and beautiful places where people can live, spend time and build a community. We’re putting life back into the town centre and creating somewhere that feels active, welcoming and full of character again.”
Simon McEneny, Deputy Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:“The topping out ceremony at Astley Place marks a key milestone in the regeneration of Newcastle town centre. It reflects the strong progress on this site – as well as our two other linked projects – and the collaborative effort of everyone involved.
“We’re excited to see the next phase of this unique scheme take shape and, ultimately, the positive impact it will have in helping to bring new energy to the town centre, supporting a thriving local economy.”
The project is part of a wider £90 million regeneration of Newcastle, in conjunction with the borough council and recently backed by a £19m funding boost from Homes England.
- Capital&Centric recently provided a first look at how the internal spaces of the Karparc development, also in Newcastle, will look like. Read that story here.
