Funding secured for £16m Stafford bypass

The project will help boost the local economy by £825m, council bosses said today.

Borough chiefs said the road will help reach the target of building 7,000 homes and creating 90 areas of employment in the coming years.

And they have hailed the route as the most significant addition to the town's road structure for 40 years. A public consultation into the Stafford Western Access Route was carried out in December 2009 and was backed by the majority of members of the public.

But the project was postponed by the Government in 2010 as it cut back spending.

Another £4m will go towards a new roundabout junction on the A34 to improve access to a new £300m power station in Meaford, near Stafford. Stafford Borough Council leader Mike Heenan said: "This is absolutely fantastic news for Stafford and Stone.

"In Stafford the money will go towards a new Western Access highway and in Stone it'll go towards the Meaford Power Station site.

"We really have done very well from this. Both projects will really help in the development of the borough and unlock employment opportunities. The site is the largest undeveloped employment site in Staffordshire and already has planning permission – but it was necessary to secure this investment to get the road link in from the A34."

Councillor Heenan said the new road would spearhead the regeneration of the borough.

The bypass will connect the A518 Newport Road with the A34 Foregate Street. Chiefs say it will cut traffic around the town's ring road.

Staffordshire Councty Council leader Philip Atkins added: "The announcement is a massive boost for Staffordshire people and business. The Government's funding level recognises the significant achievements in this county in recent years."