Redhill scheme in line for £2m funding boost from Staffordshire

THE development of a new business park in Stafford is in line for a £2m boost under plans by Staffordshire County Council.

Work on the Redhill employment park is scheduled to begin in the New Year but the county council said the scheme had been amended since original plans were submitted in April last year and the £2.2m investment was needed to accommodate the changes.

The funding bid has been submitted for approval by the county’s cabinet at a meeting next week.

When fully occupied, the Redhill scheme could create in excess of 2,500 jobs – more than initially estimated. The cabinet had initially announced an £8.5m investment in the project in 2011 as part of an ongoing commitment to bring more jobs to Staffordshire and boost economic growth.

However, since contractors began work on the project the need for additional ecological studies, drainage and earthworks has been necessary.

Cllr Mark Winnington, Staffordshire’s cabinet member for Environment and Assets, said: “This additional investment demonstrates our commitment to getting construction of Redhill under way as quickly as possible to bring jobs and growth to Staffordshire.

“It is necessary because there has been some redesign work since cabinet announced plans in April 2011 as a result of our ongoing studies of the site.

“We hope that in fact when Redhill is fully occupied there could be more than 2,500 jobs created. Under new business rate retention proposals, additional rates generated would remain in Staffordshire.”