Stoke-on-Trent City Council is cracking down on private owners allowing the city's historic buildings to fall into disrepair. Since launching its Heritage Enforcement Programme a year ago, the council has opened 93 cases targeting neglected properties across Stoke. Using legal powers where necessary, the enforcement team is forcing owners to carry out repairs and bring vacant buildings back into use.
The programme is delivering results. Twenty buildings have been brought into full compliance with council standards. Parliament Row has seen buildings fully repainted, repaired and restored. In Etruria and Hanley, ten problem sites have undergone significant repairs. The council has also issued 33 notices on untidy land, helping improve the street scene across Stoke.
Cabinet member Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker said the council will not tolerate the decline of historic buildings. "We face a heritage emergency," he said. "This programme is about tackling that head on." The enforcement function will continue with increased focus on formal action and court proceedings against owners who refuse to take action.
For Stoke residents, this enforcement drive matters because it protects the character and value of local neighbourhoods. Historic buildings that fall into disrepair can blight entire streets and deter investment. By holding private owners accountable, the council is working to preserve Stoke's architectural heritage and maintain property standards across the city.