A town centre building damaged in multiple fires will be demolished this weekend, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has confirmed.
Two fires broke out at the vacant commercial premises on Market Street in Longton towards the end of 2025. One occurred during the early hours of 2 September, when more than 30 firefighters were called out, leading to the evacuation of nearby properties.
Safety concerns prompt demolition
Inspectors monitoring the building highlighted concerns about the future safety of the remaining structures on site, prompting the council to arrange the demolition work.
Road and travel disruptions
The section of Market Street near Times Square will be closed to traffic from 19:00 BST on Friday. The council hopes the work will be finished and the road reopened by 15:00 on Monday.
Bus services have been diverted during the closure. Service 11 inbound buses will use King Street, Longton Bus Station, Wood Street, Upper Cross Street and Anchor Road before resuming normal routes. Services 6, 6A, 36 and 36A outbound buses will follow a similar diversion, while inbound services use normal routes. Service 27A will also use the bus station during its route.
Delayed from July
The demolition was originally planned for the weekend of 11 and 12 July, but contractors requested a one-week delay.
A council spokesperson said: "We apologise for any inconvenience these works might cause but public safety must always come first. We appreciate people's patience and understanding on this matter."