A major milestone has been reached in the long-planned regeneration of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, following the award of £18.94 million in infrastructure funding from Homes England.
The funding will help deliver Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s ambitious regeneration plans for Ryecroft, Astley Place and the former Midway car park, bringing 328 new homes alongside retail, leisure and business space into the heart of the town.
Social impact developer Capital&Centric is working in partnership with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to bring the schemes forward. With planning permission already secured for all three sites, the £18.94 million award completes the public and private funding package needed to begin delivery.
Reshaping the Town Centre
The project is set to diversify the town's offering by repurposing existing brownfield structures:
- Ryecroft (Rye Park): Capital&Centric will deliver approximately 130 apartments across three buildings, complemented by a new green urban park. Additional development on-site will be led by Aspire Housing.
- The Midway (Karparc): In a UK first, this concrete-framed multi-storey car park will be retained and converted into 111 apartments. The scheme features a residents' gym, lounge, and mini cinema.
- Astley Place (York Place): The former shopping centre will be transformed into apartments with ground-floor retail and leisure spaces. This includes a new live music venue at the Old Bull’s Head pub, planned by Joule’s Brewery.
“These three projects will change the face of Newcastle town centre, and I’m delighted that the final part of our funding has arrived as planned. There will be hundreds more people living in the heart of the town providing opportunities for new and existing businesses... this is a most exciting time to be in Newcastle.”
— Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Unlocking Potential
The funding, provided via the Brownfield Infrastructure Land fund, addresses the high costs associated with regenerating complex town-centre sites.
John Moffat, Joint Managing Director of Capital&Centric, added: “We are breaking new ground by doing something no one else has attempted before: taking a shopping centre and a car park and turning them into new homes. This funding will help us unlock the town’s potential and create a buzzing new heart for everyone to enjoy.”
The transformation of these sites marks a significant moment for the region, setting a national precedent for how redundant urban infrastructure can be repurposed to meet modern housing needs.
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