The fronts of buildings on a busy Potteries road are set to be given a major overhaul – to impress motorists driving into Hanley.

The Snow Hill area of Shelton – which leads to Broad Street – is in line for the transformation after concerns about its unattractive buildings.

Regeneration leaders want to spruce up the facades to impress business people travelling to Hanley’s proposed Central Business District and Stoke-on-Trent Train Station.

The proposal forms part of the North Shelton masterplan being drawn up by Government agency Renew North Staffordshire.

RENEW programme manager Nick Newman said: “This is the route into the new business district so we want to make it impressive.

“The community is non-traditional in its views. People seem quite keen for something a bit different.”

Ideas include a mixed-use development with housing, shops and workplaces.

Phil Wootton, director of Festival Park-based architects Hulme Upright, which is devising the masterplan, said: “There may be restaurants at ground level so people in flats above can come down and eat. Live-work units are a possibility.

“Another thought is a mini conference centre so people who work from home can rent space.”

“We have tried to create a mixture ofways people can access the canal because people have said it is important to them.”

The North Shelton area has been split into eight sites, with three options for each one.

A six-week public consultation was held in September. The final plan should be ready next month.

Sherif Ozturk, owner of Hayat Supermarket, in Snow Hill, hopes the improvements will help businesses attract more passing trade.

The 45-year-old, of Burslem, said: “ People just drive past and go into the centre of Hanley. If there were more businesses, more people would come here.

“Having more shops and flats is a good idea. But we need more parking as well.”

Councillor Brian Ward, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Work in the city centre is an important part of reshaping the whole of the city and nearby areas need to be complementary with the development.

“Snow Hill is so important because it is one of the main gateways into the city centre.”

• The £230 million Central Business District is proposed to the south of Hanley.