Multi-million-pound plans to overhaul two town centre sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme into new communities have been submitted to the council.
Developers Capital&Centric, the company behind Stoke-on-Trent’s Goods Yard project, are planning to transform a vacant brownfield site at Ryecroft and the 1960s York Place Shopping Centre into new neighbourhoods with homes, business spaces and places for ‘people to hang out in’.
If given the go-ahead, the shopping centre site will be re-booted as Astley Place, a tribute to the founder of the modern circus Philip Astley, with 52 new apartments and 13,000 sq. ft retail space which will target independent businesses. A new music venue has also been proposed.
Under the plans, the Ryecroft site – now known as Rye Park – will feature a mix of 171 family homes and apartments as well as a new urban park for community use creating a gateway into the town.
The plans submitted to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are part of a wider plan for the town centre, which has attracted £35 million of investment from the Government’s Future High Street Fund and Town Deal Fund.
This application follows the submission of plans to create 114 homes at the Midway car park site.
John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “Our ambition is to take unloved spaces in key town centre locations and bring them back to life. In the same way that we’re revamping Midway car park, our plans for Astley Place will retain and repurpose the existing buildings, stripping them back to their bare bones and revealing their charm.
“With Rye Park, we’re completely starting from scratch but that gives us a great opportunity to deliver something creative; a new neighbourhood brimming with much needed family homes, apartments, workspaces and a hotel. The new urban park will be a real draw for the town centre, with tons of green space to hang out and perfect for pop up events.
“All together these three sites show a real ambition by the council to revitalise the town centre and create something that the town can be proud of.”
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, added: “It’s fantastic to see applications like these come forward for York Place and Ryecroft.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to secure the town centre’s long-term future and success, and I can’t wait to see Capital&Centric’s work unfold. They’re renowned for turning tired old land and buildings into brilliant new places.”
- Read the Daily Focus story about plans submitted for Midway car park here.
