Contracts for three developments bringing new homes, shops and a hotel to a North Staffordshire town centre are expected to be approved at a meeting today.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s cabinet meets this afternoon with the contract awards for the major projects of The Ryecroft, Astley Place and the Midway, all in Newcastle, on the agenda.
Reports produced ahead of the meeting recommend that cabinet members approve expenditure of up to £33.1 million to complete The Ryecroft scheme, £16.1 million for work at Astley Place and £35.9 on the now closed Midway car park site on top of costs which have already been approved.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “Being a borough council rooted in our community we are focused on making Newcastle town centre a better place for people to live, work and enjoy our shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.
“This investment across three key sites will not only change the look of the town centre, it will change the feel of it too by bringing in more residents and visitors.”
Developer Capital&Centric, the company behind Stoke-on-Trent’s Goods Yard project, is lined up to work on each of the three sites.
The Ryecroft is due to become home to around 130 apartments in three units, while other parts of the site are earmarked for Aspire Housing, McCarthy Stone the specialist accommodation providers for over-55s, and for an aparthotel.
The former York Place, now renamed Astley Place, will create more accommodation and commercial space while opening the area between Merrial Street and Ironmarket, around the Old Bulls Head pub, where owner Joule’s Brewery plans to create a live music venue.
At The Midway, the concrete structure of the former car park is set to be turned into around 110 new apartments with a gym and other shared facilities.
Stephen Sweeney, Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, added: “These are three major schemes which we are working hard to keep moving quickly.
“Agreeing these contracts paves the way for significant work on all three sites so that by the end of the year, Newcastle’s landscape will be changing for all to see.”
