Plans for a ‘once-in-a-generation’ reboot of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre have taken a major step forward.

Last year, Capital&Centric drew up proposals to reimagine the former York Place shopping centre – now renamed Astley Place – Midway Car Park, and Ryecroft into new homes and places to eat, drink, shop & hang out. Now, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has given the nod to progress the transformational plans.

With planning permission to be determined for each of the three sites, the decision at last night’s Full Council meeting agreed the Council’s investment into the regeneration of the town centre, paving the way for the social impact developer to start work on the proposals later this year.

The developer is already underway with dismantling the shopping arcade and prepping the site for the work to start. The team are now on the hunt for a contractor to take on the reboot and bring it to life.

The social impact developer is looking to create more than 300 homes and 11,150 sq ft of spaces for businesses across the three locations, which includes repurposing much of the existing fabric of the shopping centre and Midway car park – reducing costs and saving embodied carbon – to create a vibrant, mixed-use town centre aimed at bringing more residents and visitors to the town.

The plans have also attracted more than £35 million of funding thanks to authority-led bids.

John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said:

“This is another huge step forward in our plans to give Newcastle-under-Lyme the glow up it deserves. It’s exciting overseeing three sites which, when all completed, will transform the town and make it more of a place people want to hang out in and live.

“The Council has been very supportive of our vision right from the start and we’re very grateful of their continued encouragement to help turn it into a reality.”

 

Gordon Mole, Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, added:

“This marks another milestone in the exciting regeneration of Newcastle town centre.

“This major investment will change the look and feel of the town centre forever by bringing more people in to live, work and enjoy our excellent shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.”

The submitted plans include:

Astley Place:

• 42 homes (33 one-bed, 9 two-bed)
• 11,150 sq ft of business spaces
• A new music venue
• 34 cycle storage spaces

Carpark

• 111 apartments (78 one-bed, 33 two-bed)
• New green spaces for the community to hang out in
• 68 cycle storage spaces
• 67 car parking spaces

Rye Park

• 135 apartments and family homes
• 43 affordable rental homes
• A new urban park for community use and pop up events

Capital&Centric continue to invest £3million a week in regeneration and are currently live on eight construction sites as they continue their expansion into new towns and cities across the UK, like Wolverhampton, Gateshead, Sheffield and Cambridge.