Stafford 'eyesore' to be knocked down for new flats
A Stafford town centre 'eyesore' that has been empty for more than 20 years can now be bulldozed to make way for apartments.
An application to build 15 flats on the site of the former Stafford College annex in North Walls was sent in to Stafford Borough Council in June 2018.
Almost a year later the authority has given the green light for the old annex to be demolished and a new three storey building to replace it. A one bedroom apartment and 14 two bedroom apartments are earmarked for the site.
The outline application was recommended for approval subject to a number of conditions, including 30% of the properties being affordable housing.
A planning officers’ report said: “The dwellings would be in a sustainable town centre location and the overall design of the building would enhance the location, along with the demolition of a long-term derelict structure. There would not be significant detrimental impact on the amenities of neighbouring occupiers with a condition on the design of specific windows.”
The plans do not include any car parking however because the application is within the town boundary and traffic movements to and from the apartments are expected to be “minimal” a planning statement submitted to the council said.
The former annex is next to the borough council-run Lammascote Gyratory public car park.
Urgent
The planning statement said: “The site has been vacant for over 20 years. It is constantly being broken into and being used by drug addicts despite the applicant boarding up the existing openings.
“The building is an eyesore and the site is in urgent need (of) redevelopment.
“The residents of Stafford deserve high quality development which this application will provide. The population of Stafford should not be forced to look at the existing building which is a disgrace any longer.”
Planning permission for 15 apartments and parking on the site was previously granted in 2006, but the development was never built.
Another application, again for 15 apartments on the site, was refused permission in 2017 however “on the grounds of excessive height and scale out of character with street scene and character of area due to dominant and intrusive appearance”, the planning officers’ report said.
