Penkhull Farm: A Call for Action on this Historic Local Site

For many years, residents of Penkhull have voiced concerns about the ongoing deterioration of Penkhull Farm, one of the area’s historically significant sites. Despite repeated assurances and redevelopment proposals, the future of the site remains uncertain, and its condition continues to decline.

Penkhull Farm has previously had planning permission for the conversion of its historic barns into residential dwellings, alongside the restoration of the farmhouse itself. In addition, outline approval was granted for further housing development on the western side of the site.

However, little meaningful progress has been made. Those planning permissions have now expired, leaving the buildings vacant and increasingly vulnerable to further deterioration.

The future of the farm was discussed at a recent meeting of the Residents Association, where residents expressed their frustration at the lack of visible progress and concern about the long-term preservation of this important local landmark. During the discussion, a suggestion was put forward that Stoke-on-Trent City Council should explore the possibility of using a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to acquire the site.

A compulsory purchase could help break the cycle of promises and inactivity that has characterised the site’s recent history and could safeguard the heritage value of the farm while enabling a sustainable and well-planned redevelopment that benefits both existing residents and the wider city.

The City Council has repeatedly highlighted its commitment to regeneration, heritage conservation and housing delivery. They argue that Penkhull Farm represents exactly the type of site where intervention could make a significant difference. Fortior Homes was established to bring underused and neglected sites back into productive use and delivering new homes for local communities.

Regeneration of Penkhull Farm would provide several benefits. It would secure the future of a historic site, improve the appearance of the area, create new housing opportunities, and ensure that development is carried out in a manner that respects the character of Penkhull.

Allowing the farm to remain vacant and deteriorating is in nobody’s interest. As a result, I have called for the City Council to consider all available options, including compulsory purchase powers, to bring the site back into productive use.

Residents have shown remarkable patience, but patience alone will not preserve Penkhull Farm. Without intervention, the site will continue to deteriorate, risking the permanent loss of an important part of Penkhull’s history. Our community deserves better. It is time to move beyond promises and explore practical solutions that will finally return this landmark site to productive use.