Padel court and music venue at old pottery factory

A developer has said he wants to offer people "more reasons to visit" as his company takes on the redevelopment of a former pottery factory in Stoke-on-Trent.

Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital and Centric, said plans for the former Spode site in Stoke town centre included office space as well as sports facilities and a new live music venue.

The Grade II listed former pottery factory has been undergoing a gradual transformation into a cultural hub, with a theatre as well as artists' studios already on the site alongside a hotel and events space.

The developer said he was hoping to introduce padel courts as well as space for businesses and a new entertainment venue to the 10-acre site.

Providing facilities for the rapidly growing sport would help attract families to visit, Heatley said.

"It creates activity throughout the day - from very early in the morning people want to turn up and play sport, and families want to come at the weekend and bring their children," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We've also got new food and drink spaces opening as part of it, so finding ways of taking those existing beautiful conservation buildings and re-purposing them and bringing them back to life is something we're always keen to do."

He added they wanted to offer space for creative industries within the former China Halls, as well as room for those already on the site to expand.

The halls would also house a cultural venue for exhibitions, events, music and art, joining existing groups such as Claybody Theatre which was recently awarded £150,000 to improve their space, known as The Dipping House.

"In the past 10 years since we've been there, it's just transformed and this is sort of the fulcrum point of the journey of Spode," said artistic director Conrad Nelson.

"I think it's starting to get momentum building forward, with lots of digital industries, catering and hospitality, arts and culture.

"It's when you get that mix right it becomes really exciting. It's brilliant to be part of that journey and see Spode come to life again."

Heatley's firm is currently working on a number of other projects in north Staffordshire - such as the former Midway Car Park and the old Zanzibar night club, both in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the Goods Yard site in Stoke.

The aim was to "add more space, to restore [heritage] buildings and bring them back to life," he said.

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