Action taken on almost 100 heritage buildings as council declares heritage emergency

Plus plans for Spode Works are go, open water swimming trialled at Tittesworth, sun safety advice from local cancer survivor, and our pick of five don't-miss events this week…

Jun 29, 2026

Councillors and Claybody Theatre pictured with plans for Burslem Indoor Market

Today, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

Happy Monday from The Knot. We hope that you stayed cool in last week’s blisteringly hot weather.

This week, we're taking a look at the efforts underway to protect Stoke-on-Trent's historic buildings. The council says it is making progress in safeguarding the city's heritage and "won't tolerate" private owners allowing listed buildings to fall into further decline, with a stronger focus on enforcement where action is not taken.

Since the Heritage Enforcement Programme was stepped up last summer, 93 cases have been opened targeting some of the city’s most prominent and long-standing problem properties. They include the Wedgwood Institute, Burslem Indoor Market, and Falcon Works, where the council has taken planning enforcement action against the owners while also working to secure and protect the buildings.

Major restoration projects are also gathering pace. Emergency structural repairs continue at the Wedgwood Institute to make the building safe and weatherproof ahead of a full restoration and a sustainable new future. Meanwhile, structural repairs and stabilisation are underway at Burslem Indoor Market.

Over at Hanley Town Hall, meanwhile, restoration work is progressing under its new owners, with plans for an aparthotel, cafe, and co-working space. A memorandum of understanding has also been signed to explore Queen’s Theatre’s future as a music and arts venue celebrating Lemmy’s life.

Next up, the council hopes to secure major investment for the Chatterley Whitfield complex, where restoration costs alone could require around £150 million.

What do you think? Are these the right priorities for Stoke’s heritage, or are there other historic buildings you’d like to see restored? Let us know in the comments below.

Good News 🎉

🧱 Heritage Building Support. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has taken enforcement action on 93 heritage buildings as it steps up work to tackle neglected historic properties in private ownership. The programme uses legal powers where necessary to secure repairs, improvements, and the reuse of vacant buildings. Enforcement action has already delivered improvements, including full compliance in Parliament Row – where buildings have been repainted, repaired, and restored – and further repairs at 10 problem sites in Etruria and Hanley. In Longton and Meir, 16 legal notices have been issued across 21 sites, with improvements including cleared overgrown sites, tidied frontages and repairs to building exteriors. Over in Burslem, enforcement action is underway across 16 sites, and in Hartshill and Stoke, multiple sites are improving.

Middleport is often used as a success story of how industrial heritage can be restored and given a sustainable future

😎 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Steve Taylor 😎

Steve, a mentor at Stoke-on-Trent College, was told he may only have months to live after being diagnosed with melanoma for the second time in 2023. But after pioneering immunotherapy treatment, he has since teamed up with Cancer Research UK and NIVEA Sun to help people enjoy the sun safely. He told The Knot that during last week’s heatwave, he had cream on every day and avoided going out between 12pm and 4pm whenever possible. “My head is always covered, and I avoid any extended time in the sun.” He added that he wears SPF50 as soon as the weather starts to pick up in the spring. “When going out in the sun, I am usually quite covered, and a cap is a must. It is very rare that I take my top off in the sun, even on holiday, and if doing so, I use SPF50 at regular intervals.” Now, he’s encouraging people to follow  three steps this summer: seek shade, cover up, and apply sunscreen regularly and generously. For more advice, visit the Cancer Research page here.

The 51-year old Stoke on Trent College mentor has beat skin cancer and is now educating others on how to stay safe

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🩱Open Water Swimming For Tittesworth. Tittesworth Watersports will be trialling managed open water swimming this summer, with sessions running on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. There will be a 400m course set up, with sessions lasting 50 minutes and costing £8. Managed open water swimming will only take place at authorised times within designated areas of the reservoir confirmed as safe from underwater obstructions, where water sampling and water temperatures are measured to certain parameters, swim safety is provided, and swimmers provide/wear mandatory safety equipment. For more details and to book online, go here; there’s still availability for 02/07 at 17.50 or 04/07 at 07.20.
Go on, dive in: Tittesworth is trialling managed open water swimming

🏗️ Plans for Spode Works are Go. Capital & Centric is busy developing Spode Works into a cool new destination with public spaces to hang out, including indie cafes, bars, and restaurants as well as workspaces and padel courts. The wider master plan will create a mixed-use neighbourhood featuring more homes and workspaces against a backdrop of greenery and new planting.

Artist’s impression of the revamped rose garden at Spode Works, which is being developed by Capital & Centric

😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. Got kids? Take ‘em to Kidsfest at Trentham (26/07) to meet a friendly neighbourhood superhero, princess meet-and-greets, K-pop sing-alongs, magicians and roaming performers from 6pm-9pm; tickets £18 adult, £15 child, £4 two and under. Check out LGBTQ+ Time Warp: 1500s to the Present (31/07) at Stafford’s Ancient High House from 7pm; tickets £5.95. Wannabe performers and music lovers, Bolton Gate Arts is hosting open mic night Gigz@theGate (04/07, 01/09 & 05/09), 6pm-10pm; admission free. The Big Feast is returning to Hanley town centre (28/08 & 29/08), with the usual line-up of physical theatre, circus, and dance; admission free. Cycling fans can book Carlton Kirby’s True Tales of the Tour de France at the Mitchell Arts Centre (02/07), where the commentator will reflect on his front-row experiences from the Tour at 7.30pm; tickets £21.

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