Potteries Centre to expand
A MULTI-MILLION pound expansion is planned for Stoke-on-Trent's biggest shopping centre within the next five years.
The Potteries Shopping Centre, in Hanley, has been the city's biggest single retail attraction for the past two decades.
But plans to build a massive new shopping and leisure complex less than a mile away have prompted the centre's owners to look at enlarging it.
The Potteries Centre, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, currently attracts 14 million visitors a year to 95 stores set in 52,600 sq metres of floorspace.
But owner Capital Shopping Centres Plc is now working on plans to extend the site by as much as half its current size again.
The move is a response to proposals for the new £285 million East West Precinct to the east of the city centre and more than £40 million of improvements to the streets between the two sites.
Potteries Shopping Centre general manager Paul Lancaster said it is vital that the city's main shopping attraction keeps pace with Hanley's regeneration.
He said: "We are currently working through the expansion plans with the city council, as it has got to tie in with the regeneration of the city.
"There is space to the north and west of the Potteries Centre which we have acquired and we hope to develop in the long term.
"The idea is that Stoke-on-Trent will soon be a much more desirable place to live and visit and will bring in a large population of shoppers that we do not currently attract."
City Centre Chamber of Trade chairman Richard Day said the expansion would be a major boost for the city.
He said: "Having an enlarged Potteries Centre as well as an East West Precinct will really help to increase the number and mix of retailers in the city centre.
"There will eventually be a very good mix of outlets in both centres and people will want to walk between the two."
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration, councillor Adrian Knapper, said: "The plans for the Potteries Centre are important to the regeneration of the city.
"We have to transform Hanley into a regional shopping destination to bring people into the city from outside."
Shopper Olive Harrison, aged 66, from Hanford, said: "We need a bigger variety of shops selling unusual things.
"A John Lewis would be nice and I like the shopping in Trentham Gardens. Hanley needs shops like that."
Len Turner, aged 56, from Hilderstone, said: "I don't mind if they make the shopping centre larger, as long as they don't build any of these out-of- town shopping places in the countryside."
Get the latest news from Hanley at www.thisis staffordshire.co.uk/mytownhanley
12 Comments
View all
by Kerry, Crewe
Monday, January 05 2009, 5:17PM
“It is a nice idea to modernise the potteries shopping centre and this seems to be happening everywhere (Crewe is supposed to be revamped too) however you only have to look around either Hanley or Crewe and the shops are struggling to stay open. Look around, there are redundancies everywhere, a new company goes bump every other day! If people dont have jobs they aren't going to go shopping!!! And as for "unusual things" (in the original article), these are the shops that go first!
I know there will be some that say it will "create" jobs but you need to ask yourself how long these jobs will last if people cant afford to spend!
I would just like to point out that i LOVE shopping and would normally travel to Chester or Liverpool if i want a day shopping so it would be nice to have it on my door step, i just dont think it will help!”
by Beverley Turner, Longton
Monday, January 05 2009, 10:45AM
“Having read your piece on the redevelopment of the potteries centre, i believe this to be a great idea. Myself and my husband quite regularly travel to the Trafford Centre or Sheffield to shop, the redevelopment of the Potteries Centre can only be a good thing for the city, we need more choice of not only the larger retailers but of the smaller shops with a bit of a difference to them, we also need more choice in the area of restaurants /cafe etc. I do hope that the current climate doesn't put a stop to the development as that would be a grave mistake, we need to start to build the city up, as it seems most of the pottery industry has disappeared and we need to have a focus.”
by Sparkly2009, Heaven
Sunday, January 04 2009, 9:33PM
“If only I was Dr Who.... I would take the time machine to Stoke-on-Trent, the year 2014. Will the city centre be the same??
I fear that lack of vision, poor leadership or cash shortages will stall this new development.
But I truly hope this doesn't happen..
In spite of the economic climate now we should not stop planning for the future. Wouldn't that be short sighted? Retail outlets are closing now but if the past can be used as a marker, we will have a boom time again.
There are many large capital projects that by 2014 will be completed or in full swing, the University Quarter being a good example. This development will be a part of the change that the city is crying out for...
I for one hope that we pull our socks up and start to compete with some of the up and coming cities in the country, so come on leaders, a well equipped and attractive shopping area makes a world of difference to visitors and locals alike.
Heres to seeing transformation and regeneration for Stoke!”
by sparkly, Stoke-on-Trent
Sunday, January 04 2009, 9:17PM
“Expansion of the Potteries shopping centre is surely a positive step for Hanley city centre and all those that shop there? It will boost the the local ecnonomy and help the city compete with other shopping malls / cities that are on the up. In five yrs time the economy will be different, we can't base future decisions on our experience now. Afterall we can't stand still on our laurels....other similar cities are taking the bull by the horns and investing in new city centre infrastructure.
A time machine would be handy right now....will the development happen? OR will lack of vision, poor leadership, or cash shortages prevent this from becoming a reality... I truly hope not!”
by princess_stoke, Stoke
Sunday, January 04 2009, 8:16PM
“Its about time bloody time! we''ve been promised 'stoke regeneration this' & 'stoke regeneration' that for too long!
the city centre looks so out of date and BACKWARD! not to mention chavvy! our city centre is an embarssment to neighbouring towns/cities & you can tell from out of towners' faces they think the place is a bit of a dump...only God knows what they think!
No wonder enough people aren't visiting theres no enough variety, shops are out of date and theres no where to even eat (we no longer have the food court!)...theres nothing whcih is attracting people! the place needs some serious MODERNISATION!
and its a shame really, as stoke is set in one of the most envied & easily accessible locations (in between manch and brum and near to the peak district and moorlands etc) and the people in stoke are the most friendliest & hardworking-we seriously deserve more! x”