Oatcake shop 'may be relocated'

Housing regeneration bosses hope a traditional oatcake shop which is set to be demolished can be relocated.

The Hanley shop, which still follows the tradition of serving oatcakes from a window in the wall, is set to go as part of massive rebuilding plans.

Renew North Staffordshire's Andy Tharpe said it was a contentious issue but added they "want to save the oatcake shop because it employs people".

He said Renew had been in talks with the owner about moving the shop nearby.

He said it may keep parts of the building as a lasting feature.

"Certainly we may be able to preserve the frontage and the traditional serving the oatcakes out of a window we want to preserve," he said.

Housing scheme

Mr Tharpe said they recognised the shop was important but its location was "difficult".

"It's end terrace and the rest of the terrace has been identified as either of low demand or having difficult ground conditions."

Renew North Staffordshire plans to invest £2.3bn over 15 years to transform the housing market and improve the area.

It is one of nine Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder initiatives in England, which aim to build better homes in communities hit by low demand for property and poor quality housing.