A city centre masterplan for Stoke-on-Trent will complement the city's regenerated bus station and Etruscan Square development, the city council says. Credit: Gkbediako / Wiki Commons

Stoke launches its city centre masterplan

2 March 2026 16:12 Mike Sheridan Comments (0)

More than 700 homes could be built on brownfield sites across Hanley under plans launched by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Arcadis.

The authority launched a consultation on its plan, which could see an extra 1,800 residents living in the city centre by 2050, with house-building on city centre brownfield sites forming a “key component” of the proposals.

The city council says more people living in the centre of the city will deliver increased footfall, and a more viable retail core for the city, while revitalised transport links, improved public spaces, and a campaign to highlight the city’s ceramics industry heritage will also be included in the scheme.

The plan is split between a series of bold, transformative projects, described as “Big Moves”, designed to reinvigorate the city centre and drive future growth, together with a number of short term projects already in the pipeline, which will be integrated into the wider masterplan framework.

The authority says the new programme will compliment the existing “Etruscan Square” project to regenerate the former bus station site and build residential and leisure developments.

Plans to include the city’s transport network include a number of new bus routes, dubbed as a “Bus Rapid Transit System”.

“I’m aware people might hear the word ‘masterplan’ and think they’ve heard it all before. This is something different: a realistic and practical vision with clear short and long-term goals,” said Cllr Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

“We will start to see the benefits from this quite quickly in terms of addressing empty shops, bringing historic buildings back into use and better public transport connectivity. A lot of this work is already underway.

“This will sit side by side with longer-term retail, leisure and greenspace development.

“We want this to be a plan the whole of the city can get behind. That’s why we are calling on residents, workers organisations and visitors to get involved.

“Their feedback is vital to ensuring the masterplan reflects community aspirations and delivers sustainable growth and opportunity for all.”

A number of in-person events will be announced over the next few weeks, in Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall, set to take place prior to the public consultation closing date of 22 March.