One of Burslem’s most iconic buildings is being brought back to life – and the council wants the community to have a central role in deciding what it becomes.
Restoration work is now underway at the Grade II-listed Burslem Market Hall on Queen Street with a £4 million programme of structural repair and stabilisation. It marks the beginning of a transformation for the building that has stood empty for more than two decades.
Now, with the building being secured for the future, a major public engagement programme is being launched to help shape what comes next before any decisions are made about the building’s long-term future.
Every response will count and future uses could include food and drink, independent retail, a market, live events, community and cultural activity, leisure, hospitality - or a mix that brings people together across the day and into the evening.
The council, which is funding the work alongside the government and Historic England, wants to hear directly from the people who matter most - the residents, businesses and young people of Burslem and the wider city.
The engagement programme is being delivered in partnership with Next Phase, a specialist regeneration consultancy with extensive experience of transforming market halls and out-of-use buildings across the UK.
An online survey is now live and open for responses until Monday 15 June: https://www.surveymonkey.com/
Meanwhile, two public drop-in sessions will give residents the chance to meet the project team, find out more about the proposals and share their views face to face. Both sessions are open to everyone and no appointment is needed:
• Thursday 28 May - Barewall Art Studio, Market Place, Burslem. 10am to 7pm.
• Wednesday 10 June – 32 Queen Street, Burslem. 10am to 7pm.
- Burslem Indoor Market
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- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
- Burslem Indoor Market
This consultation is seen as a genuine opportunity for the community to influence the future of a landmark building.
The council and Next Phase want to understand how people use Burslem town centre today, what is missing from the local offer, and what kind of destination would make a real difference.
The engagement programme has been designed to hear from as wide a range of voices as possible. In the coming weeks, Next Phase will also be undertaking dedicated sessions with local businesses and key stakeholders in and around Burslem, with further details to follow.
A specific programme of youth engagement is also running alongside the main survey, giving young people a direct opportunity to help shape the future of one of Burslem's most significant landmarks. Further details on how schools and young people can get involved will be announced shortly.
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “This is a genuinely exciting moment for Burslem. After years of uncertainty, real work is happening on this building, and now we want the community to be part of deciding its future.
“Burslem Market Hall has enormous potential, and we are determined to unlock it in a way that works for local people.
“I would urge everyone to take a few minutes to share their views. The more people who respond, the better the plans we can put forward, and the stronger the case we can make for the investment this building deserves.”
Hayden Ferriby, of Next Phase, said: “Burslem Market Hall is exactly the kind of building that can anchor a town centre: a space with real character, real history and real potential. Modern market halls are doing something remarkable right across the country, reclaiming their place at the heart of communities and becoming the kinds of destinations people genuinely choose to spend time in.
“We have seen what that transformation looks like when it is done well, and we believe Burslem has everything it needs to be part of that story. Getting there starts with understanding what local people genuinely need, and we want those voices to be at the heart of everything we put forward.”
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