Councillors in Newcastle-under-Lyme have received an update on proposal for a dilapidated 1960s shopping centre which is set to be redeveloped as part of a major remodelling of the town centre.

The authority secured £11m from the government's Future High Street Fund for the redevelopment of the Ryecroft site and further improvements to the town centre, including York Place.

It bought the York Place complex in March 2021, and allocated £3m from the government funding towards the purchase as well as relocation costs for existing tenants and the subsequent demolition of the site.

The authority says the project is a key step in a series of town centre developments that are planned as part of both the Future High Street Fund and Town Deal funding.

Since April 2022 the council has been working with Willmott Dixon to develop proposals for the site – which will feature a new plaza, linking it to the rest of the town as well as the forthcoming Ryecroft development.

York Place, as viewed from Merrial Street.

A planning application for York Place was submitted late last year, and it is anticipated that a decision on planning will be made by mid April 2023.

If approved, demolition work could begin in late June 2023 and it's hoped this will be completed in December 2023.

The scheme for York Place would see two four-storey block along with public open space and an open link between Ironmarket and Merrial Street.

The ground floors of the blocks will be made up of food and beverage or retail space and there will be office units on the upper floors.

Red Lion Square, as viewed from Liverpool Street.

Commenting on the plans, council leader Simon Tagg said: "I think we've gone for designs that look to what was there previously – individual sites, individual-looking buildings – in the 1960s.

"I think there's plenty of potential there to build a design for that part of town that will enhance it and also enhance Red Lion Square which has some Georgian buildings and is right next to St Giles' Church."

Deputy leader Stephen Sweeney confirmed Astley Walk is now empty and has been locked, and said the council is now entering into early conversations for possible tenants for the site.

He said: "It's all progressing very, very well.

"When you talk about this end of town, 'tired' is a good word. I think York Place just looked tired, it looked like a building of its time – the 1960s.

"These are very exciting proposals for Newcastle."

Cllr Tagg described the town as

Cllr Tagg added: "This is a tired part of town which will be a premier route through to the Ryecroft development and link through to the core town centre, where our retail businesses should be.

"We want to grow those, and the only way we're going to grow this his by increasing footfall.

"It's all about footfall in towns – that's why they've lost footfall to online and they've lost footfall to out-of-town.

"We have to create the environment where people are working and enjoying time in the town centre, and that's what these proposals do."

Cllr Andrew Fear said he was pleased the designs had been put together in such a way as to minimise instances of anti-social behaviour by not having dark, secluded spaces.

He commented: "Quite a lot of thought has gone into making sure it isn't a dark, dingy place which will attract exactly the people we don't want in our town at night."

Cllr Gill Heesom also noted the positive impact the scheme will have on the area.

She said: "I welcome this project as it will open up the town, a gateway into the town, giving a much-need boost to the town centre."

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