Tunstall is set to receive one of its largest single-year investments in recent memory, with around £10 million now committed to projects across the town during the current financial year.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council confirmed in August that a further £1.5 million had been agreed for public-realm and regeneration work. The additional allocation sits alongside existing schemes and is intended to support improvements to the town centre, the Tower Square Conservation Area, shopfronts, empty commercial units, planting and play facilities.
For residents, traders and regular visitors, the important question is not simply how large the headline figure sounds. It is whether the programme can make Tunstall a cleaner, more welcoming and more commercially resilient town—while preserving the character that makes it recognisably Tunstall.
What has been announced?
The council says its total investment in Tunstall during the financial year has now reached approximately £10 million. The newest £1.5 million will support further town-centre work, with residents expected to be consulted about how parts of the funding should be used.
The programme is broader than a single construction project. Current proposals and announcements identify several priorities:
- Further improvements to public spaces in the town centre
- Investment in the Tower Square Conservation Area
- Support for better shopfronts
- Measures aimed at reducing the number of empty units
- New planting and potential play-area schemes
A separate £4.5 million public-realm allocation has already been associated with changes to central Tunstall. Earlier consultation material considered how streets, crossings, seating, planting and shared spaces could work better for people using the town.
Why the public realm matters
“Public realm” is a planning term for the places everyone uses: pavements, squares, crossings, seating areas, planting, lighting and the space between buildings. These details can sound less exciting than a new attraction or major commercial development, but they shape how a town feels every day.
A town centre that is easy to walk around, well maintained and visibly cared for encourages people to stay longer. That matters to cafés, shops, markets and service businesses. Good lighting and clearer routes can improve confidence, while seating and accessible paths help older residents, families and people with limited mobility.
The strongest schemes also recognise that appearances alone are not enough. New paving will not revive a town if units remain empty, maintenance is inconsistent or businesses cannot attract customers. The public-space work therefore needs to operate alongside practical support for shopfronts, occupancy and events.
Tower Square and Tunstall’s identity
Tower Square is central to the story because it provides Tunstall with a distinctive historic focal point. The conservation area contains buildings and streetscapes that connect the modern town to its industrial and civic past.
That heritage is an asset, not an obstacle. Restored traditional frontages, sensible signage and sympathetic materials can give independent businesses a setting that is difficult for an out-of-town retail park to reproduce. The objective should not be to turn Tunstall into a museum, but to allow old buildings to support modern uses.
This balance matters across the Potteries. Stoke-on-Trent’s six towns grew around industry, commerce and strong local identities. Regeneration works best when it improves everyday conditions without erasing the features and memories that belong to the place.
Could better shopfronts and fewer empty units make a difference?
Empty units create a difficult cycle. Fewer occupied premises mean less variety for shoppers, which can reduce footfall and make it harder for the remaining traders. Poorly maintained frontages can also give the impression that an entire street is struggling, even where good businesses are operating nearby.
Targeted shopfront support can help reverse that impression, particularly if grants or practical assistance are easy for small traders and property owners to access. Consistent improvements across several neighbouring properties tend to have more impact than isolated changes.
Bringing empty units back into use will be the more demanding test. Traditional retail may form part of the answer, but successful town centres increasingly contain a mixture of independent shops, food and drink, health and beauty businesses, community services, workspaces, leisure uses and homes. Flexibility is likely to be essential.
Temporary uses could also play a role. Pop-up shops, makers’ markets, exhibitions and community projects can put otherwise vacant space back into circulation while longer-term tenants are sought.
What residents previously said
In 2025, the council reported that more than three-quarters of people responding to a consultation believed the planned public-space investment would improve Tunstall. Feedback was gathered on how people used the town centre and what they wanted changed.
That level of support is encouraging, but continued consultation will be important as detailed decisions are made. Residents and businesses experience the town at different times of day and often identify practical issues that are easy to miss on a plan—from delivery access and parking pressure to poorly placed street furniture.
Consultation should therefore produce visible results. People are more likely to take part again when authorities explain what was suggested, what will change and why some requests cannot be adopted.
The disruption question
Regeneration work inevitably creates a period of inconvenience. Road restrictions, temporary barriers, noise and altered pedestrian routes can be particularly difficult for businesses already operating on tight margins.
Clear phasing and regular communication will be crucial. Traders need adequate notice of works affecting deliveries or customer access, and visitors need straightforward signs showing that businesses remain open. Where possible, the most disruptive activity should avoid key trading periods.
The finished scheme will be judged partly by its design, but the way construction is managed will influence whether existing businesses are still there to benefit from it.
What should local people watch next?
There are four useful measures of progress beyond the headline investment figure.
- Delivery: whether the announced projects begin and finish to a clear timetable.
- Occupancy: whether more empty units return to sustainable use.
- Maintenance: whether new planting, paving, seating and play facilities remain in good condition.
- Local benefit: whether existing traders report stronger footfall and residents use the centre more often.
Public updates should make it possible to follow spending and delivery against these outcomes. Regeneration is a long-term exercise, and its success cannot be measured on opening day alone.
A significant opportunity for Tunstall
Approximately £10 million represents a serious commitment to Tunstall. Used well, it can strengthen the historic centre, improve the everyday experience of residents and create a more attractive environment for independent businesses and future investment.
The encouraging feature of the current programme is its breadth: public spaces, heritage, shopfronts, vacant units, greenery and family facilities are all part of the conversation. The risk is that individual improvements become disconnected or that visual upgrades are expected to solve deeper commercial problems by themselves.
Tunstall has endured difficult periods before and retains a strong identity, useful transport connections, established businesses and an important place within the six towns. The forthcoming work now needs to convert funding into visible, durable progress.
What would make the biggest difference to Tunstall town centre for you? Stoke-on-Trent Duck welcomes constructive views from residents, visitors and local businesses.
Sources: Stoke-on-Trent City Council: £10 million committed to Tunstall; Tunstall public-realm consultation. Information correct at publication. Featured image: Tower Square, Tunstall, photographed by AtticTapestry, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
