Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to acquire the vacant Blackburn House office block in Hanley as part of wider regeneration plans around Etruscan Square.
The 11 storey office block has stood empty since 2019, and council leaders say acquiring it could support the wider regeneration of Etruscan Square and Hanley city centre.
What’s new: Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to acquire Blackburn House, the vacant 11-storey office building next to the Etruscan Square regeneration site.
Why it matters: Council leaders say the building occupies a strategically important location and that its continued vacancy could undermine regeneration plans for the surrounding area.
What’s next: The council will make an offer based on an independent valuation. If the owner does not accept it, the council could pursue a compulsory purchase.
This article is based on reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a BBC funded initiative set up to strengthen reporting on local democratic issues. The Staffordshire Signal has taken part in the scheme since September 2026, which means we're able to draw on a selection of LDRS stories alongside our own.
Council chiefs are planning to purchase a vacant city centre office building.
The 11-storey Blackburn House in Hanley has been empty since HM Revenue and Customs closed down its Stoke-on-Trent office in 2019.
Plans to convert the tower into 130 flats were approved last year, but work on the scheme has yet to start.
Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to acquire the building, which stands next to the Etruscan Square regeneration site.
Council leaders say the acquisition will support the ‘wider regeneration objectives’ for the area.
The council will make a final offer for the building based on an independent valuation.
If this offer is not accepted by Blackburn House’s current owner, the council will look to make the case for a compulsory purchase.
This article has been provided by The Staffordshire Signal. Click below to find more local news.
More from News from The Staffordshire Signal
-
Potters Patch continues to flourish thanks to community support
Potters Patch in Hanley is thriving thanks to local residents, schools and volunteers, bringing new opportunities for gardening, education and community wellbeing.
-
Caring Staffordshire vet practice manager is finalist in the Oscars of the veterinary world
Nicky Sheldon, practice manager at EC Straiton Vets in Penkridge and Rugeley, has been named a finalist in the 2026 Petplan Veterinary Awards after showing remarkable dedication to her team while undergoing cancer treatment.
-
Weston Park’s bonfire bonanza is back - and you could press the big firework button
Rockets are set to light up the sky as one of the region’s biggest bonfire and firework nights is set to return at Weston Park - and you can win a chance to kick it all off.
-
The D-Day Darlings bring Victorious tour to Burton upon Trent this November
Following performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Britain's beloved wartime harmony group, The D-Day Darlings, are bringing their new show, Victorious, to The Brewhouse Arts Centre in Burton upon Trent on Tuesday 10 November.
-
Newcastle council leaders back HMO controls across 14 wards
Council leaders have backed plans to introduce new HMO controls across 14 Newcastle-under-Lyme wards, requiring planning permission for future small HMO conversions.
