Council reveals plans to regenerate town centre land

Land occupied by empty buildings in Stafford town centre is set to be transformed through a long-term regeneration scheme led by the county council.

The county council is looking to work with Stafford Borough Council and other partners to ensure parcels of land off Eastgate Street are brought back into productive use, forming part of the wider regeneration of the town centre.

The Eastgate Regeneration Scheme focuses on the county council’s empty Wedgwood Building, St Chad’s Building and adjacent property on Martin Street, in addition to land occupied by the former probation service and magistrates court buildings.

Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “As a county council we want to take the lead in the regeneration of our county town at such a critical time as we move forward from COVID-19. The Eastgate Regeneration scheme is an important part of our economic growth programme and recovery from the impact of the pandemic on our economy and our towns. This will make a major contribution to the overall regeneration of Stafford town centre which is essential to its long-term vitality.

“The project will involve investigating how we can use land occupied by redundant buildings, including the Wedgwood and St Chad’s buildings, Martin Street and the former probation service building and former magistrates court. This could include commercial and high-quality residential development.

“Working with our partners we look forward to seeing this area of Stafford reborn as a thriving community supporting a vibrant social, retail and cultural offer in the heart of the town.”