Background
The Middleport and Burslem area is a mix of residential and industrial districts, interspersed with green spaces. The Trent and Mersey Canal runs north-south through the area.
The birthplace of one of Stoke-on-Trent’s most famous sons - Josiah Wedgwood - Burslem was once at the heart of pottery manufacturing. Although most of these businesses have now either closed or relocated, Burslem town centre is rich in industrial heritage.
Middleport is a mainly residential area characterised by terraced Victorian housing with a scattering of factory premises and vacant sites.
Together, Middleport and Burslem make up one of RENEW North Staffordshire’s Areas of Major Intervention (AMIs) – which are areas that need a concentration of resources to help create communities where people will want to live and work.
Research shows that house prices in the area are below local, regional and national averages, and that there is a significant lack of family accommodation. RENEW North Staffordshire’s regeneration programme in Middleport and Burslem aims to deliver quality housing choice and support access to employment and training, through projects that meet the needs of local people.
RENEW North Staffordshire’s ‘vision’ for the area is to create a ‘truly sustainable’ community in Middleport and Burslem in a way that protects and enhances the area’s unique heritage. This involves developing neighbourhoods that offer both new and existing residents:
- a choice of housing types by building new, affordable homes and improving existing homes
- access to a range of employment and training opportunities
- a range of high quality community facilities that address local needs
- better quality streets and open spaces
Visit our interactive map to find out more about RENEW’s work in Middleport and Burslem.
