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Northwood is dominated by a grid pattern of terraced streets with a more commercial feel to the area near Potteries Way to the west.

Originally the area was identified as requiring intervention due to its weak housing market.  Contributing to this was uncertainty caused by the industrial legacy of mine shafts and deep marl holes that were filled with a mix of waste materials.

However, the local market is now comparatively buoyant and a detailed ground study completed in 2004 indicated that there were no immediate structural issues requiring action. 

Future interventions will be tailored on a case by case basis, and only the clearance of a block of 19 homes in Eaton Street costing in the region of £1.75m has been necessary

A small group of campaigners in Northwood, led by Eve Maley, organised a long-running campaign to save the properties in Eaton Street from the bulldozers. Eve is pictured with Alan Proctor (brown jacket) and her husband John in March 2007.

In August 2008 families lost their four-year legal battle to save their homes from bulldozers after a High Court judge ruled the properties should be knocked down.

Residents in six houses in Eaton Street had gone to the High Court to try to stop Stoke-on-Trent City Council and RENEW North Staffordshire demolishing their houses.

But Mr Justice Ouseley said their claims for the review were ‘untenable’ and ‘completely illogical’ after ruling their human rights had not been violated.

He also dismissed claims that repairing the residents’ homes would not be costly.

The decision meant the council and RENEW could press ahead with plans to clear 19 of the houses in the street after a survey found the buildings had serious structural problems.