Astley Place topping out - A UK first

Capital&Centric has hit a major milestone at Astley Place in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with the scheme officially topping out and reaching its full height.

But this isn’t any old topping out. Astley Place is a genuine UK-first, the first time a former shopping centre has been transformed into homes anywhere in the country. It’s a completely different way of thinking about town centre regeneration, taking a redundant retail space and turning it into somewhere people really want to live and spend time in.

The site has civic history, once a busy retail and community hub at the heart of the town, before falling into disuse in recent years. Now it’s being brought back to life with a mix of design-led homes and commercial spaces right into the centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme, creating a diverse mixed-use neighbourhood.

Astley Place will feature:

• 42 design-led homes: A mix of 1 and 2-bed apartments for rent, right in the thick of the action

• Indie spaces: 11,150 sq ft of space for independent shops, bars, and cafes

• Music venue: A brand new cultural spot to boost the town’s evening economy

• Green hangouts: Lush outdoor spaces and walkways connecting the neighbourhood to the wider town

Achieving this point is a big moment in the build. The structure is now complete, and the focus shifts to bringing the place to life. The milestone was marked on site with the project partners and construction team who’ve got it this far.

Martin Crews, Development Director at Capital&Centric, said:

“Getting Astley Place to this stage is a huge moment for everyone involved. It’s been sat there underused for years, so seeing it now at full height and really taking shape is something else. “As a UK-first, this is really special for me, we’re taking what was a shopping centre and completely reimagining it into homes. It shows there’s a different way to bring town centres back to life, beyond relying on retail, by creating innovative and beautiful places where people can live, spend time and build a community. We’re putting life back into the town centre and creating somewhere that feels active, welcoming and full of character again.”

Simon McEneny, Deputy Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:  

“The topping out ceremony at Astley Place marks a key milestone in the regeneration of Newcastle town centre. It reflects the strong progress on this site – as well as our two other linked projects – and the collaborative effort of everyone involved. We’re excited to see the next phase of this unique scheme take shape and, ultimately, the positive impact it will have in helping to bring new energy to the town centre, supporting a thriving local economy.”

With new public spaces and a big focus on quality design, Astley Place is all set to play a key role in the town’s wider regeneration – turning what was a forgotten shopping centre into a buzzing new destination.

The project is part of a wider £90m regeneration of Newcastle-under-Lyme, in conjunction with the Borough Council and recently backed by a £19m funding boost from Homes England. It sits alongside Capital&Centric’s other upcoming town centre sites, “Rye Park” (a buzzing new neighbourhood in the Ryecroft area of Newcastle-under-Lyme) and “Karparc” (turning the former Midway Car-Park into homes in a UK-first).