About This Project.
Jim Wise Demolition was commissioned to deliver the demolition and restoration phase at the Goods Yard site in Stoke-on-Trent — a pivotal early-stage contract within what would become one of the most significant urban regeneration schemes in the Midlands.
The Goods Yard is a landmark £60 million development that has transformed a long-derelict Victorian goods warehouse into a thriving new neighbourhood of 174 rental homes, 30,000 sq ft of workspace, independent bars, eateries, coffee shops and a public square — all sitting between Stoke-on-Trent train station and the Trent & Mersey canal.
Before any of that could be delivered, Jim Wise Demolition carried out the complex selective demolition, structural preservation and site clearance work needed to make it possible. Our scope covered the historic warehouse complex — a three-storey Victorian brick structure with vaulted basement, surrounded by later 20th-century steel frame additions — requiring careful distinction between what needed to come down and what needed to be retained and protected.
What We Delivered.
Our scope on the Goods Yard project was substantial, involving multiple workstreams running concurrently across the live heritage site:
The History of Goods Yard.
Goods Yard has its roots in the industrial heritage of the Potteries. Originally built as a three-storey brick goods warehouse, the building served as a hub for storing rail freight shipments as they were craned between the trainline and the Trent & Mersey canal — a critical node in the movement of goods across the region.
The vaulted basement below the main structure dates to the same period, providing covered storage for goods arriving by water. By the mid-20th century, the surrounding land had been filled with lightweight steel frame buildings constructed around the original shed, gradually expanding its use as a general storage warehouse.
By the time the regeneration programme began, the site was tired and largely derelict — but the bones of the original Victorian warehouse remained sound. Our work was to clear the way for the site's transformation while respecting what remained of its industrial past.
The wider regeneration: Goods Yard now comprises 174 design-led rental apartments with exposed concrete features and large windows, a co-working lounge, private dining room, gym and cinema room for residents, alongside a public square and ground-floor independent hospitality operators — including Cotton coffee shop and Panko & Sushi. The scheme has been described as one of Stoke-on-Trent's most important regeneration projects in a generation.
How We Delivered It.
All works were carried out by Jim Wise Demolition's directly employed team of trained and accredited operatives, working under a detailed method statement and risk assessment approved by the principal contractor. The heritage nature of the site demanded an exceptionally high standard of care — our operatives worked to clearly defined break lines, with structural engineers' input informing how and where demolition could proceed safely alongside retained fabric.
Asbestos management was carried out in full compliance with HSE CAR 2012 regulations. All waste was transferred under Environment Agency waste carrier licence, with full documentation provided to the client on completion.
Jim Wise Demolition hold ConstructionLine Gold, SSIP Acclaim, HSE Licensed Asbestos Removal, NEBOSH and IOSH — giving clients full confidence in our credentials on every project, from a straightforward clearance to a complex heritage programme like Goods Yard.
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