£1m Longton town centre works near completion

McPhillips is nearing completion of improvements to two passages in Longton as part of a £1m town centre project, with work at Times Square scheduled to finish in March 2027.

The civil engineering and construction firm was appointed through the Stoke-on-Trent regeneration framework. The Longton scheme forms part of a wider £6.5m public realm plan backed by a £29m award from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

At Baths Passage, McPhillips has installed new railings, paving and lighting to improve the connection between the town centre and the bus station. Work in Strand Passage includes natural stone paving, railings, seating and tree planting to improve the link between the Tesco retail park and the town centre.

The wider works will also introduce level crossings for pedestrians and a revised traffic layout intended to improve circulation and ease congestion. At Times Square, a new traffic layout and red routes are planned to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. A civic space will be created in front of the town hall, with provision for public art as a focal point.

McPhillips director Stuart McKenzie said: “This package of works in Longton town centre is a £1m investment by the local authority to improve traffic management, pedestrian access and a provide a brand-new gateway to the town centre.“Our teams on site are experienced at delivering public realm projects in busy centres, working in partnership with the local community and retailers to limit any impact and we’re really proud to be a part of this one.“We’re already seeing much of the work come together in the Baths Passage and Strand Passage areas, with the work at Times Square set to complete in March 2027.”

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, Cabinet Member for Growth, Regeneration and Transport at Stoke City Council, said: “It’s really brilliant to see this project beginning to take shape and the plans come to life.“The new, high-quality paved walkways with railings, seating and better lighting have really given the area a fresh, modern look. As work nears completion, the improvements to both the pedestrian links and public realm between The Strand and the Tesco supermarket and Longton bus station are remarkable.“When the work is complete – including the transformation currently taking place around Times Square – I am confident the area will be a bustling, welcoming heart-of-town for locals, visitors and local businesses. We will continue to work with businesses and other partners in Longton to keep improving the town together.”