Spode Works, Building 5, Elenora Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1QQ.
RAEBUILD successfully completed the conservation and refurbishment of Building 5 at the historic Spode Works site in Stoke-on-Trent on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The project involved the restoration, structural repair and sensitive conversion of the former Joiner’s Workshop and Mould Store, dating from approximately 1847, into a modern Business Enterprise Incubator facility. As part of the wider regeneration of the Spode Works site, the scheme preserved an important heritage asset while creating high-quality commercial accommodation for new and growing businesses.
Building 5 occupies a prominent position at the Elenora Street entrance to the former Spode Works and is one of the site’s historically significant structures. Having stood largely vacant following the closure of pottery production, the building required extensive conservation and refurbishment works to secure its long-term future.
The brief was to restore and enhance the historic fabric, address structural and environmental issues, improve accessibility, and create flexible accommodation suitable for modern business use while adhering to established conservation principles and protecting the building’s heritage significance.
We delivered a comprehensive conservation and refurbishment programme that carefully balanced the preservation of Building 5’s historic character with the requirements of a modern commercial workspace.
Works included structural repairs, underpinning, tanking and floor replacement, alongside extensive restoration of the external fabric through re-roofing, specialist brickwork cleaning, lime mortar repointing, replacement windows and doors, and new cast iron rainwater goods.
Internally, the building was reconfigured to create flexible business accommodation, incorporating meeting rooms, welfare facilities, kitchen areas, accessible access provisions, and modern mechanical, electrical and ventilation systems. External works included new drainage, parking, retaining walls and access improvements, ensuring the building was fully functional while remaining sympathetic to its historic setting.
The completed project successfully transformed a vacant and historically significant former industrial building into a modern business enterprise hub while preserving its heritage value and architectural character.
Through a conservation-led approach, Building 5 was restored to a high standard, safeguarding an important part of Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery industry history and enhancing the appearance of the wider Spode Works site.
The development now provides flexible, high-quality commercial accommodation designed to support start-up and growing businesses, contributing to economic development and ongoing regeneration within the city.
By combining modern facilities with sensitive restoration, the project has secured the long-term future of a key historic asset and created a sustainable new use for one of the site’s landmark buildings.
