Apartments at former Stoke factory poised for go-ahead

Plans to build more than 70 flats and townhouses in a former Stoke-on-Trent pottery works have been recommended for approval.

The Atlas Works on College Road in Shelton was originally built in 1890 as an iron foundry and engineering works, but was later used for pottery manufacturing, while neighbouring Cleveland Works was built as a pottery factory in the early 20th century.

The buildings have been vacant since training provider Achieve quit the premises in 2022, but now look set for residential redevelopment ahead of a meeting of the city council’s planning committee next week.

Under proposals put forward by Sterling Property Co last year, the historic former pot banks would be converted to 18 residential apartments and seven town houses, with a five-storey apartment block also set to be built on neighbouring cleared land once occupied by the Washington pottery works, designed to house a further 47 homes.

The former Atlas and Cleveland Works in Shelton could become apartments under new proposals. Credit: KMA via planning portal

In their submission to the city council, Greater Manchester-based Sterling said the proposals represented a “high-quality” residential scheme which responded to local housing need in the city, with around 80% of the apartments comprising two-bedroomed units.

A report by Stoke on Trent’s planning officers said the plans, which do not include alterations to the street-facing facade or roofline of the former Atlas Works, would help to “reinforce the original architectural quality” of the building – with the addition of 25% of the scheme set to provide a positive impact against city housing targets.

“The scheme would deliver 72 needed residential units with a policy compliant quantum of affordable housing expected on-site,” said the officers report.

“In doing so, the scheme is able to regenerate a visually prominent yet underutilised brownfield site but also bring a non-designated heritage asset back into use.”

Studio KMA have provided designs for the scheme, while the project team also includes Eden Planning & Development, Ethos Environmental, and Miller Goodall.

A final decision on the application will be made at Stoke-on-Trent’s planning committee, set to be held on Wednesday, 24 June.

Documents and plans relating to the application can be found on the Stoke on Trent planning portal using reference: 25/FUL/00233