The community of Stafford have been asked for their views on plans to deliver new homes, businesses, a hotel, and leisure facilities in the town.

The Stafford Station Gateway masterplan will specifically pay close attention to the revitalisation of underutilised brownfield land around the railway station and the project would see the ‘Station Gateway’ become a thriving community, elevated by the town’s location which is at the heart of the proposed HS2 route.

Have your say Stafford

The new framework presented is being delivered through a partnership between Stafford Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and LRC, the government’s placemaking and regeneration expert.

Before this process kicks off, local residents and businesses will have a chance to share their thoughts on the major transformation which include proposals aiming to create up to 20,000 square feet of commercial space, alongside hundreds of new high-quality homes, a hotel, and a multi-storey car park.

On offer is also opportunities for brand new leisure, retail, and food and beverage concepts to create a fresh and vibrant centre for the community.

Nick Smithson, senior development manager at LCR, said: “As a town with a proud and rich history, Stafford has witnessed its fair share of transformations over the years. The exciting masterplan for the Station Gateway represents another positive evolution as the town cements its place as a key hub in the Midlands.”

“Delivering high-quality housing and the amenities to match is one of the core mandates of levelling-up, and the masterplan highlights the untapped opportunity that exists on land around our railway stations, which is typically unloved, under-developed and perceived as too difficult to transform.

Smithson concluded: “The crucial next step will be ensuring that the masterplan is ultimately adopted and owned by the community. This summer is all about collaboration with local people and working with them to ensure that Stafford Station Gateway reaches its full potential and becomes a much-loved destination.”

Stafford will become a major new transport hub and the masterplan sets in place the amenities to maximise the opportunity on the town’s doorstep, with HS2 expected to cut travel time to London to 53 minutes.

The scheme will also reimagine the public realm in the area, along with delivering a variety of commercial and housing space. This will include cultivating walkable neighbourhoods that are well-connected to the town centre, which is designed to encourage more active lifestyles and bring community wellbeing to the forefront.

Regeneration and investment strategies has been underway

There has already been a substantial amount of investment in the town recently – with the opening of the £63 million Western Access Road, continuous work on the £23 million state-of-the-art skills and engineering facility at Stafford College as well as the new Shire Hall enterprise hub, and the £2.5 million restoration of Victoria Park.

Funds have been secured by the Borough Council for the £21 million Future High Street Fund transformation of the town centre which includes work to improve the landscape outside the front of Stafford Railway Station. The County Council have also secured £7.1 million for the Staffordshire History Centre, just off Eastgate Street.

Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning, said: “Growth and prosperity for our borough is a key priority for the council and we have attracted huge investment to our area working closely with our partners. The financial backing we have received is testament to the confidence that government has in us to deliver major developments such as the Stafford Station Gateway project.”

“This underutilised area will see the birth of a new community, with quality homes where people will want to live, alongside a business-friendly environment and leisure facilities, sitting on the doorstep of our station which will be an enormous attraction to potential investors. The ‘Station Gateway’ scheme is yet another piece in the jigsaw of transforming the heart of Stafford.”

We are now asking our residents, businesses, community groups and organisations to get involved in the consultation and give us your views to feed into this project and help draw up a masterplan for a development we can all be proud of, says Councillor Beatty.

Councillor Philip White, deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills at Staffordshire County Council, also said: “The Stafford Gateway project is hugely significant in the ongoing regeneration of the town centre, capitalising on the enhanced connectivity at the station that HS2 will bring. New commercial and housing development will make the county town an even better place to live work and visit, in addition to bringing more employment opportunities.

 “It will complement the work we have been doing, together with Stafford Borough Council, which include the Stafford Western Access Route, the Shire Hall Business Centre and the Eastgate area regeneration plans. We look forward to seeing the project progress and would urge people to have their say on the masterplan during this consultation period.”

Stafford community invite

Consultation with the community will begin on Thursday 18^th August lasting for six weeks, with residents and local stakeholders invited to have their say via in person pop-up events and online. Once all community feedback has been factored into the plans, the masterplan will be submitted to the council for final approval.

The search for development partners to deliver the proposals will follow council approval of the plans.

The community is invited to view the masterplan and have their say here: https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/stafford-regeneration-stafford-station-gateway.