Stafford masterplan praised by politicians

Jeremy Lefroy, the MP for Stafford, has said he is 'very pleased' with the masterplan, while the leader of Stafford Borough Council Patrick Farrington has spoken of his town's 'big ambitions'.

As revealed in the Express & Star yesterday, the borough council has unveiled plans to turn land next to the railway station into a gateway for Stafford, featuring hundreds of homes, a hotel and a new car park. The plans have been unveiled on the back of the multi-billion pound HS2.

Mr Lefroy, the recently re-elected MP for Stafford, is opposed to HS2 but said he is pleased to see the town looking to reap the benefits from the controversial high-speed rail link.

He said: “Although I continue to be opposed to the HS2 project, I have always made it clear that, if it did happen, Stafford should see the benefits, in contrast to the damage that will be done to some of our local communities. I am therefore very pleased to see these proposals for the development in the town, as well as the fact that Stafford will be a regular HS2 stop.

"It is vital that we ensure that such a project also brings skilled jobs into the town and also that we continue to focus on a whole town solution, which helps to breathe life back into those parts of our town centre that are currently struggling."

His comments come after new images of the what the site could look like were released. The two new images show what apartments on the site might look like as well as where exactly the mammoth new development will lie in the town.

Council chiefs say developers have already shown an interest in the 28-hectare site near the railway station, which could see 650 apartments, 150 houses and a new multi storey car park with 1,400 spaces built on it.

Councillor Patrick Farrington, the leader of the borough council, said: “Our borough is growing and we have big ambitions for it. HS2 has presented an opportunity to deliver substantial economic growth and regeneration across the town.

“We want to ensure we have a vibrant town centre for the future – knowing that more residents and office workers in town will provide a boost to the High Street - and we will be studying these exciting plans very closely to ensure we are creating the right environment for businesses to flourish, for people to live, work and enjoy the area, and for communities to prosper.”