Over in Knutton, RENEW North Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have delivered the heritage-led regeneration of a series of terraced streets at the heart of this former coal mining community. 

The Borough Council’s policy of repair and renovation stands in stark contrast to Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s policy of demolition and clearance, and clearly demonstrates that There Is Another Way, but leads you to scratch your head pondering the many vacant sites throughout the Potteries.

 

Renovated Terraced Housing, Knutton
©Urban Vision North Staffordshire

The second Burslem Townscape Heritage Initiative has seen a series of renovations to key buildings, including the Liberal Club which was on the verge of collapse but now stands proud once again on Market Place, and Westport Chambers as the Sytch meets the town centre, securing the future of a lot of the Mother Town’s historic fabric, and contributing to the viability of many local businesses.

Newly Renovated Westport Chambers

The long-hoped for restoration of Bethesda Chapel in Hanley is now near completion, a campaign which began in 2003 with the building's appearance on the BBC's Restoration series, and led to the Historic Chapels Trust driving forward a programme which saved one of the Potteries' few Grade II* Listed buildings.

And just the other side of the street, the former Peppers Garage - which was in an appalling condition, an embarrassment, and at the time, a potential hindrance to the restoration of Bethesda Chapel - has been successfully converted to a restaurant and office accommodation by local architects Wood, Goldstraw, Yorath.

Grade II* Listed Bethesda Chapel
©Urban Vision North Staffordshire

Revamped Pepper's Garage
©Urban Vision North Staffordshire