Further plans to improve former pottery factory

Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the remnants of the kiln will be restored and will feature a plaque

Further redevelopment works of the former Spode Works ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent have been proposed.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, in partnership with developers Dog and Bone Group and Spode Museum, wants to renovate an historic courtyard at the former factory site to make it more appealing for workers and visitors.

It comes just days after the council announced the completion of the Bottle Kiln Courtyard, a building that had been largely unused since the factory closed in 2008.

The new plans will see an existing green space improved and the remains of the bottle kiln preserved for the future.

The 10-acre site, a key part of the city's regeneration, has long been a source of frustration among residents keen to see it improved.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been working to develop the area since 2016.

The newly proposed works also include new seating, incorporating plaques from various benches around the site, planters and lighting, as well as new flags and signage on the kiln.

Existing trees and shrubbery will need to be cleared or removed where necessary to stop the roots from damaging the remains of the bottle kiln, the council said.

A new tree will be planted as a replacement as part of the city's centenary celebrations this year.

The Spode factory shut in 2008

Stoke-on-Trent city councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker described the site as "a fantastic place in the middle of Stoke town".

"Our ambition is to combine the old with the new to create a central hub for creativity and the arts," he said.

"These latest improvements will create a pleasant environment for workers on the site and visitors to sit and enjoy."