Historic Potbank Section Auctioned with Plans for Flats and Shops

An old pottery factory section is up for auction. It has permission for flats and shops. The plan is for a gated, car-free area with apartments with one to three bedrooms.

Kirklands Properties Ltd is selling the King Street building. They already made offices and a cafe in the southern part of the factory.

They hope a housing developer buys the northern part. The site has two bottle ovens. One oven will be part of an apartment. The plan also shows two shops on King Street.

Mark Milner owns the company. He wants urban living in south Stoke-on-Trent, stating Longton needs people living there to thrive. The plans aim to help the town and keep history alive.

Milner developed half of the Phoenix Works already. The northern part suits apartments better. It needs help from an expert in that area.

Plans feature a bike park, but no car spaces. One bottle oven base becomes the mail room, accessible to all residents.

Large timber doors will secure King Street access. Landscaping is planned for the courtyard to create paths and shared areas. A pergola walkway shaped like an oven is also in the works.

The Milner family bought Phoenix Works in 1961. At that time, small shops made pottery. By the 1980s, much of the trade vanished. The site was mostly empty then.

Milner invested in the southern part for over ten years, spending over a million pounds. He preserved the ovens and chimney. Now it holds the Glost House cafe, shops and offices.

Thomas Forester built Phoenix Works in 1881. It housed many small potbanks then and became a big producer of Majolica pottery. In 1900, Forester had workers and showrooms everywhere.

SDL Property Auctions will host an online sale. Bids are invited on March 3 and 4.