Major regeneration projects integral to Stafford town centre’s transformation are being coordinated through a new masterplan.

Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council are working together to deliver a range of high-quality developments in and around the town centre which will ensure the county town can thrive as a location to live, work, and visit for decades to come.

The plan will ensure the projects complement each other to maximise opportunities for future investment, boosting visitor numbers and attracting new businesses and residents. It will build on Stafford’s location, with excellent road and rail links, and its history and heritage.

The councils will work with strategic planning and placemaking specialist David Lock Associates to deliver the masterplan.

It is a significant milestone for Stafford town centre’s regeneration, following investment and grants from the Future High Streets Fund, the Levelling Up Fund, and the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as funding from both councils.  

Projects completed in recent times include refurbishment of the Market Square and the Stafford Railway Station entrance and approach, creation of the Staffordshire History Centre, and Shire Hall Business Centre.

The borough council has started work on major high street regeneration projects including preparing the groundwork for the transformation of the Guildhall shopping centre and former Co-op department store buildings. And it recently revealed it had purchased the former Wilko store as part of the ambitious plans for the area.  

Deputy Leader of the borough council, Rob Kenney, who has responsibility for town centres, said: “Stafford is certainly making the right noises on a national stage and has attracted significant interest from investors and developers who want to invest in our county town.

“As a local authority we have been proactive to increase the pace of transformation of the town by purchasing property to prepare the groundwork for future development - and using money we have secured from the Government to deliver projects that will improve the area.”

He added: “Our priority is to have a town where people want to live, work, visit and invest in.”  

Staffordshire County Council is in the early stages of its Eastgate regeneration scheme – repurposing and redeveloping redundant county council buildings and land into leisure and residential use.  

The councils are also working together to deliver the Stafford Station Gateway scheme which will see redevelopment of land around the railway station.

Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Stafford with significant projects completed, being undertaken now or in the pipeline. People can see a great deal of activity taking place and are anticipating the next phases.

“This is stimulating interest, enthusiasm and confidence in investors and is further demonstration of our successful partnership working. The masterplan will pull everything together in a coordinated and cohesive way – providing an evidence-led framework to guide the future for Stafford in the immediate, medium, and long term.

“Stafford is the county town at the beating heart of the country, and we aim to strengthen its position as a leading place in the UK to live, work, visit and invest in.”

Press Release No 6233