Stafford Borough Council has approved the masterplan for the Stafford Station Gateway mixed-use development site.
The plans, set out by development partners Stafford Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and LCR, outline the guiding principles for regeneration around the town’s railway station where around 900 new homes, up to 20,000 sq ft of workspace, a hotel, retail and leisure facilities will be delivered.
Nick Smithson, senior development manager at LCR, said: “Endorsement of the masterplan marks the beginning of an exciting journey to breathe new life into Stafford. The masterplan for the development aims to emphasise the vibrant and thriving community that Stafford has been cultivating.
“Crucially, the plans are centred around the town’s residents and businesses, and we’re so grateful to everyone who came to have their say on the plans and help shape them into something truly bespoke to the community. We’re excited to work with Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council to embark on the next phase and help realise the transformation of the town.”
Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning at the borough council, said: “Growth and prosperity are key priorities for the council. Working closely with partners we have attracted huge investment to our borough and that is testament to the confidence investors have in us to deliver major developments such as the Stafford Station Gateway project.
“It is great to see this exciting project progress another stage forward, with a transformational blueprint to breathe life into this underutilised area of our county town. The Gateway will bring about the birth of a new community, quality homes, waterscapes and trees, wildlife corridors, alongside a business-friendly environment, quality leisure facilities, sitting on the doorstep of our station. What an enormous attraction to potential investors.”
Councillor Philip White, deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills at Staffordshire County Council, added: “The Stafford Gateway proposals provide an exciting vision for the town, developing land around the railway station and capitalising on improved connections which will support future growth. The masterplan approval by the borough council is another milestone in the project progression and it is pleasing to see the strength of community involvement in the planning stages.
“Together with the borough council and other partners, we are working hard to improve and revitalise the county town with a range of interconnected projects which will attract significant investment in years to come. They include our Eastgate regeneration plans, refurbishment of the Shire Hall as a business enterprise centre, completion of the Stafford western access route, Stafford History Centre, high street and Market Square regeneration and Victoria Park improvements. These are exciting times for Stafford and we look forward to continued successful delivery of the combined proposals.”
