Work set to begin in Stafford to prepare key town site for future regeneration
Work to prepare a key development site as part of a major regeneration scheme in Stafford is progressing next week.
County council-owned land off Doxey Road will form part of the Stafford Station Gateway project in conjunction with Stafford Borough Council, bringing planned new homes and businesses to the area.
The former Saint Gobain manufacturing site was acquired by the county council in 2018 as part of the now completed Stafford western access route scheme.
Industrial buildings were demolished to make way for future regeneration and the 15-acre site will see excavation ground works begin today (Monday, February 2) with the main remediation activity taking place toward the end of the year, subject to planning consent.
To support the works, Stafford Borough Council secured £20 million from the Government, with up to £16.5 million allocated to the Doxey Road works.
Communities and businesses will be consulted and kept up to date throughout the trial works and main land preparation work.
Martin Murray, acting leader at Staffordshire County Council, said: "As a key partner of the Stafford Station Gateway scheme, we’re pleased that the land preparation is now beginning to ready it for major development.
"This is a significant area of the regeneration site close to the western access route and the railway. Through remediating the site, it will enable it to be developed but this does take time.
"We will of course keep nearby communities and businesses up to date with plans and work progress.
"Seeing activity on site represents another milestone, instils investor confidence and helps us to build on our growth plans here at the beating heart of the country.”
A new Institute of Technology for the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group next to the railway line, supported by £13 million of government funding and backed by Stafford Borough Council, Keele University, Siemens, and Dell among others, is now open.
Stafford Borough Council leader Aidan Godfrey said: "Everyone visiting Stafford town centre will see the significant regeneration already taking place - including recent improvements to the entrance, and approach, to our railway station - the gateway to the centre of our town.
"The Stafford Station Gateway project is another part of that overall vision to transform the county town, and the work underway on this key site will provide the catalyst for further progress of our ambitious plans.
"The money we have already attracted to support the regeneration of our town is testament to the confidence that investors and the government have in us, and our partners, being able to deliver significant growth in the area.
"We are perfectly placed by road, rail, and air for new businesses to flourish and the Stafford Gateway will be a thriving, vibrant new community within the town where people want to live, work and visit and all sustainably connected to the railway station.”
