Capital&Centric kick-start hunt for businesses to locate to Goods Yard neighbourhood in Stoke-on-Trent

The team behind Goods Yard in Stoke-on-Trent have kick-started the hunt for a collection of independent businesses to locate to the new neighbourhood.

Capital&Centric have opened expressions of interest and appointed agents for over 30,000 sqft of commercial spaces at the canalside site. They’re on the hunt for independent bars, eateries, coffee shops, retail stores and creative businesses to set up shop across four neighbourhood buildings.

It comes as the social impact developers reveal new images of how the double-heighted Vaults Warehouse will look. Currently undergoing restoration, the locally-listed canalside warehouse is planned to become a buzzing all-day social hub, with eateries, a bar and places to meet, work and hold events – echoing Manchester’s successful Ducie Street Warehouse, a previous Capital&Centric restoration.

The new images show how the once dusty and redundant space is being transformed, with new light-wells, an impactful staircase bringing visitors down from the gardens above, and huge windows overlooking the canal, with seating spilling outside for canalside drinks and dining.

With a new direct link to the neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent main line rail station, the 174-home neighbourhood will feature a mix of spaces, with Capital&Centric looking to assemble a complementary variety of creative and ambitious businesses that want to be at the heart of the action when it opens next year.

Those interested in the spaces are encouraged to get in touch, with more information and contact details available here.

Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said:  

“Goods Yard will be a standout neighbourhood for Stoke-on-Trent, right next to the station. A big part of its appeal will be the operators that locate there, whether an independent coffee shop, pizza joint, a creative business wanting new office HQ or retail store. We want a complementary mix of operators to call Goods Yard home and help create a real destination not only for the hundreds of new residents living right above, but for the surrounding Stoke-on-Trent communities.

“The new sneak peek at the Vaults Warehouse shows what an incredible space it’ll be, acting as a social hub. The beauty of the neighbourhood is that it offers a mix of spaces across different buildings that can suit a whole range of uses, so we want to hear from creative, ambitious businesses that want to be part of the neighbourhood from day one.”

Flexible spaces include the Vaults Warehouse; the Victorian Signal Box on Glebe Street; the new build Pavilion workspaces; and the industrial style new build spaces on the ground floor of the apartment building. The spaces, ranging from 1,200 sqft to 14,000 sqft, offer real flexibility, meaning the team is welcoming a wide range of proposed uses for consideration.

Business will also, in time, benefit from a direct source of renewable, low-carbon energy, with the neighbourhood directly linked to the local District Heat Network. 

The launch of the spaces is another milestone for the neighbourhood. Construction is powering ahead, with opening planned for spring 2025.

Councillor Chris Robinson, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to grow or others to invest in the area and be part of this exciting new neighbourhood and vibrant leisure destination in a central location in Stoke.

“The vaults warehouse is a stunning space and with a range of eateries, will attract people looking for a unique dining and leisure experience in Stoke-on-Trent with easy access by rail as well as serving the local community and on-site residents.

“In addition, office and commercial space will add to a successful mix. Goods Yard will create jobs and business opportunity as well being a place to enjoy.”