Leader welcomes government confirmation of £20m investment for Stafford

A council leader has welcomed confirmation that Stafford will receive nearly £20 million for an ambitious regeneration project for the town.

New homes, businesses and multi-storey car park have been earmarked for disused land behind the town’s railway station. Stafford Borough Council were successful in a bid for funding for the Stafford Station Gateway scheme - as announced in late 2023. 

Now the government has confirmed the council will receive just under £20 million towards the project which has been welcomed by council leader, Aidan Godfrey.  

Councillor Godfrey said: “It is great to now have confirmation that we will be receiving this money and demonstrates the confidence the government has in us, and our partners, to deliver growth for the area. We have consistently demonstrated our ambition for Stafford town and attracted significant investment, and interest, in the borough.”  

Proposals for the ‘Station Gateway’ scheme include a hotel, up to 900 new homes, 30,000 square feet of commercial space, a 350-space multi-storey car park, along with retail and leisure facilities on ‘underutilised brownfield land’ around the railway station.  

The project is a partnership between the Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, and Network Rail.  

And the new Newcastle and Stafford College Group’s £22.5 million Institute of Technology for Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire backed by Keele University, Siemens, and Dell among others, is expected to open this year on the ‘Gateway’ site. 

Councillor Godfrey added: “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.” 

Stafford Borough Council purchased the derelict former Co-op Department store in the centre of the town, and the struggling Guildhall Shopping Centre, and are already carrying out demolition and preparatory work to attract investors and developers for commercial and residential schemes for the buildings. And work will be started, and completed, this year on improving the entrance and approach to Stafford Railway Station as part of the proposals to transform the town centre.   

Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “The Stafford Gateway scheme will play an important role in the county town’s ongoing regeneration bringing investment, new homes and employment opportunities.  

“It’s great news that the funding has now been confirmed by the government which means the scheme can progress. We’re committed as a county council to see our towns become more vibrant and grow as places to live, work and visit. 

“The area around the station is a prime location for this type of redevelopment and we’re pleased to contribute as a key partner.” 

For more on the Stafford transformation plans go to Transforming Stafford | Stafford Borough Council and the masterplan for the ‘Gateway’ can be found at Stafford Station Gateway | Stafford Borough Council (staffordbc.gov.uk)