🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
There’s been a lot of anger across the city around Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Local Plan, which outlines proposals for more than 19,000 new homes between now and 2040 to meet growing housing demand and address waiting lists.
Residents in Packmoor told The Knot that plans to allocate a 200-acre plot of council-owned farmland and green spaces for around 800 homes felt like “a hostile takeover.”
Over in Lightwood, Cocknage, Rough Close, and Meir Heath, locals are similarly up in arms over plans for 113 hectares of green belt to be used for around 3,000 homes.
That’s why we were pleased to hear that foundation work has begun on brownfield land at Booth Street in Hartshill Park, with the former council yard being used to create 77 flats and houses over the next 18 months.
Alongside this development, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is bringing forward sites such as Pyenest Street in Shelton, the former Olympus Engineering site on College Road and the former Edensor High School site in Longton to provide new housing on previously developed land.
As for Lightwood’s green belt development, the project must pass through a strict statutory timeline before a single brick can be laid…
Good News 🎉
🏗️ More affordable homes. Foundation work is now underway as construction progresses at the development at Booth Street, which is being delivered by Morro Partnerships on behalf of the council. Alongside delivering the new homes, the develper has committed to several environmental and community benefits, including delivering a dedicated green community project, providing 60 hours of volunteering, supporting local businesses and organisations through social value initiatives, and recycling up to 97 per cent of on-site packaging waste.
🎓 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Professor Amanda Coffey 🎓
The University of Staffordshire has appointed Professor Amanda Coffey as its new vice-chancellor and chief executive. Currently deputy vice-chancellor and provost at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), she will take up the role in March 2027, with Professor Philip Plowden leading as interim vice-chancellor and chief executive until she takes up the post. A social scientist with particular expertise in social policy and qualitative research, Amanda spent around 30 years at Cardiff University before joining UWE in 2020.
👗 White Stuff opens at Trentham. Renowned for its colourful prints and commitment to ethical sourcing – and for having dresses with pockets, yay – clothing store White Stuff opened at Trentham Shopping Village last week. Stocking women's and men's clothing along with footwear and accessories, go browse its cosy jumpers, scarves, hats, and gloves and get kitted out for winter. If you’ve shopped there before, you’ll know it can be a little pricey, but some items currently have 25% off. The retailer stocks sizes from 6 to 24.
🗞️ The Knot gets government funding! Last week, the government announced that 50 local news providers had been awarded grants of up to £125,000 to support long-term sustainability and growth. That includes The Knot’s owners, The Lead, and the cash will help fund our first live event on Hanley regeneration on 3 December at Smithfield Works and you’re invited (full details Wednesday). We will also be producing a print edition by the end of the year, stay tuned on that!
🧱 More buildings added to Heritage at Risk Register. We at The Knot, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, welcome the news that Historic England has added the Tower Square Conservation Area in Tunstall and the Grade II listed Hartshill Cemetery to the national Heritage at Risk Register. They join Hulton Abbey and Burslem Conservation Area, which were added in 2025. The council said, “While no one wants to see important heritage sites facing these challenges, inclusion on the Heritage at Risk Register is an important step towards securing their future.” Burslem has already benefited from this approach, with the market hall securing £1 million from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund to support restoration and conservation work.
Tunstall’s Towe Square Conservation Areas has been added to the national Heritage at Risk Register. Pic: Stoke-on-Trent City Council Facebook page
🎭 Our Don’t-Miss Events this Week. A special exhibition at The Nicholson Institute Museum & Art Gallery in Leek, Blackshaw Moor: The Hope of New Beginnings (18/11, 1.30pm–3.30pm) marks 80 years since Polish soldiers were resettled at Blackshaw Moor; admission free, reserve here.
There are only limited tickets left for certain dates for Trentham’s Meet Father Christmas event (05/12-24/12, 9am-6pm) who will be at his grotto with the elves for a meet and greet; tickets £22 per child (£20 for members); adults go free. Petals and Pots will be hosting a Christmas Wreath Workshop at Canal Street Studios in Longport (10am-1pm); tickets £32, includes materials and light refreshments.
Staying with the Christmas theme, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kazuki Yamada, will be at the Victoria Hall for SOT Classics - CBSO - Double Nutcracker! (11/12, 7.30pm) for Tchaikovsky and more with clarinet soloist Oliver James; tickets from £26.79. There are two events for Longton Exchange we want to tell you about: the Christmas Light Switch-on (05/12; event from 11am, switch on at 4.30pm), which will feature a fun fair and artisan fair. The Longton Community Christmas Event (14/12) will see local businesses and community organisations come together to provide hot meals, free haircuts, refreshments and festive support for those who need it most. Among the supporters are Ali’s Kitchen Longton, which has pledged 100 curry and rice meals. Email Longton Exchange by 30/11 if you want to offer help.
🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot
🕴️ Exclusive: The Knot interviews Rachel Shenton: The only Stokie with an Oscar will begin shooting her first feature film, DUST, in the city on 16 November…
🍻 What would a Strategic Mayoral Authority mean for Stoke: could we finally sort out our own transport, housing, jobs and more?
📽️ Star in Rachel Shenton’s film! You can sign up to be an extra here
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon 🌧️ 8° (4°) Tue 🌧️ 9° (9°) Wed 🌧️ 10° (6°) Thu 🌧️ 8° (3°) Fri ☁️ 8° (2°)
Sat 🌧️ 8° (3°) Sun 🌧️ 8° (3°).
Sunrise 09/11: 07.21 ☀️ Sunset 09/11: 16.24 🌅