Parts of an historic former pottery factory with planning permission for 25 apartments is to go up for auction in early March.
An exciting vision for the north courtyard of the former Phoenix Works, Longton, involves the creation of a gated, car free community with one, two, and three-bedroom apartments overlooking a courtyard.
The building is being sold by Kirklands Properties Ltd, with full planning permission in place.
SDL Property Auctions are to hold an online sale with bids being invited on March 3rd and 4th.
The Phoenix Works at 500 King Street includes two bottle ovens, one of which will form a central feature of one of the new apartments. The planning approval also features two retail units on the main road King Street frontage.
Kirklands Properties Ltd has successfully developed the southern courtyard into offices, shops, and a café. Now they are looking to sell the northern courtyard to a specialist housing developer.
Company owner Mark Milner said: “Our vision involves bringing high quality urban living to the South of Stoke-on-Trent. For Longton to thrive it needs people to be living at its heart.
“The plans are designed to both achieve that vision and to preserve a significant part of Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial history.
“While I have successfully developed half of the Phoenix Works, the northern section lends itself to a residential development and needs the support of a specialist in that area.”
In keeping with Mark’s urban living vision, the plans have a bicycle park in the courtyard, with no provision for cars on site.
The plan includes using the base of one bottle oven as a feature of a communal mail room, accessible by all residents.
Large timber doors are planned to secure the access onto King Street. There are plans for the courtyard area to be landscaped to provide pathways and shared amenity areas for residents and would feature a walkway with a pergola designed in the shape of a bottle oven.
The Phoenix Works was bought by the Milner family in 1961. At the time it consisted of small workshops, with small pottery producers making their own designs.
By the 1980s, much of the trade had disappeared and the site was largely empty.
Mark said: “I have dedicated more than a decade and invested over £1m in transforming the southern part of the Phoenix Works. There was much to do in preserving the site, and the transformation has been heritage led, ensuring the safety of the bottle ovens and the 90ft chimney.
“We now have a mixed-use development, with offices, retail, and the Glost House café.”
The Phoenix Works site was built by Thomas Forester in 1881. It was once home to a community of small potbanks and became a major producer of Majolica pottery. In 1900 Forester employed over 700 people and had showrooms in London, Berlin, Vienna, and Paris.
To see auction details, please go online to https://online.sdlauctions.co.uk/lot/details/140106
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