Road scheme serving new St Modwen scheme gets underway

WORK on a major road improvement scheme to serve a new Staffordshire business park is set to begin.

The scheme at Meaford, which is the county’s second Government Growth Deal funded project to get off the ground, will see the construction of new roundabouts on Meaford Road at its junctions with the A34 and Rookery Lane to allow easy access to the Meaford Business Park site. Work will begin on Tuesday (May 26).

Investment through the Growth Deal and developer St Modwen could create up to 2,500 jobs. St Modwen is regenerating the brownfield site to include a new business park, power station and housing.

As part of the improvements, which are being carried out with highways partner Amey, the northern entry to Meaford View will be closed to only allow access off Meaford Road, increasing safety in the village. New pavements and a cycleway will also be installed on Meaford Road between the two new islands. Work is scheduled to take 12 months to complete.

Staffordshire County Council said that during the works period Meaford Road and Rookery Lane would be closed to all vehicles and a diversion route will be signed.

Staffordshire County Council’s economy leader Mark Winnington said: “The development at Meaford will bring a derelict brownfield site back into productive use, regenerate the area and see the creation of up to 2,500 jobs.

“This project is included in our Growth Deal which will result in major business development across the county. We have demonstrated that we can deliver such projects with our partners which will have a lasting positive impact on our economy and the local jobs market. This is a busy route, and while we will try to limit disruption as much as we can, we would ask people to bear with us over the next 12 months.”

David Frost, chairman, Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire LEP, said: “We have set an ambitious job creation target to create not just more jobs, but better, higher paid jobs for the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Our Growth Deal projects will bring thousands of jobs to this area and it is encouraging to see the first two get off the ground.”

Euan Lindsay, senior development manager at St Modwen, said: “This is a major step forward to facilitate development of Meaford Business Park and shows regional and national commitment to help bring forward employment opportunities in the region. In parallel with the county council works, we will be undertaking on-site infrastructure preparation for development of Meaford Business Park.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close