A historic courtyard area of a former pottery site is being renovated to make it more appealing to workers and visitors. 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, in partnership with Dog & Bone Group and Spode Museum, wants to carry out the improvements at the Spode site in Stoke.

 The proposals will see the existing green space improved and the remains of the bottle kilns preserved for the future. 

Other improvements include new seating, planters, lighting and new interpretation signage for the remains of the bottle kiln. 

Cllr Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "A lot of progress has already been made at Spode and we remain committed to redeveloping the site further in the future. 

"It is a fantastic place in the middle of Stoke town."

As part of the improvement project, existing trees and shrubbery will need to be cleared or removed, where necessary, to stop the roots from further damaging the remains of the bottle kiln. 

But the council say a new tree will be planted as a replacement as part of the city's Centenary celebrations.

Dog & Bone Group recently renovated Building 4L on the Spode Site, which has largely been unused since the factory's closure in 2008 and was in a state of severe disrepair. 

Cllr Gordon-McCusker added: "Our ambition is to combine the old with the new to create a central hub for creativity and the arts.

 "These latest improvements will create a pleasant environment for workers on the site for workers on the site and visitors to sit and enjoy."

Spode is now home to a number of successful businesses and organisations including ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art), Spode Museum Trust, Aparthotel, The Quarter restaurant, BCB (British Ceramics Biennial), Lesniak Swann and The Claybody Theatre Group.

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READ: Residents discuss the future of a historic fire-damaged pub in Stoke-on-Trent

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