College set for huge revamp
A £62 million transformation of Stafford College was today closer to reality – amid protests by heritage bosses who claim that the site could look "barren and hostile".
English Heritage has voiced concerns that the contemporary development could wreck historic views across the town.
They are also asking for time to carry out archaeological digs before the development starts, in a bid to find treasures which they believe could be hidden at the historic site.
The multi-million pound plans include the demolition of some of the college buildings on the four-acre Earl Street site as well as an extension to the Grade II-listed Tenterbanks building which dates from 1939.
The college revamp will also involve increasing floor space from 15,286 sq metres to 15,877 sq metres.
The first phase of demolition would involve the workshop and Skills Centre in Broadeye and parts of the central link block and Tenterbanks link block. The Earl Street building and the main part of the central link block would come down in the second phase. The Broadeye and sports hall buildings will be retained under the plans.
A key feature of the new-look campus will be an open central courtyard along with a restaurant and cafes. But as the scheme would involve the loss of 70 car parking spaces, a condition of permission would require the college to contribute £60,000 towards public parking in the town centre.
It today emerged that the borough council's development control committee has been recommended to approve the project when members meet on Wednesday.
