Stafford launches ‘exciting’ town centre regeneration
A food market, an expanded college and more town centre homes could become the basis of a rebooted Stafford, under council-backed proposals.
Stafford Borough Council has launched a consultation on its plans for the town centre, which could decide the future of three key regeneration plots, described by the council as the biggest transformation in the county town in a generation.
The council’s development framework includes a new market hall, intended to host artisan retail, food court, entertainment and business start-ups, a variety of accommodation, pocket parks, enhanced public spaces, and proposed expansion site for the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group on Broad Street.
Around 55,000 sq ft is also earmarked for a residential development on part of the former Guildhall shopping centre site, according to a masterplan released this week.
A masterplan for the site shows residential, educational and commercial uses in a rebooted town centre. Credit: ArkleBoyce Architects
The authority is set to host a series of drop in events this month to gather public feedback on the plans.
Deputy leader, Councillor Rob Kenney, said he was looking forward to hearing from members of the public about the scheme.
“We have provided the framework for an attractive, modern and well-connected town centre with a focus on heritage that will provide a strong county town identity – and help to bring in high quality developers.
“There is still much work to do but I am really pleased we have taken the lead to enable the groundwork that is creating a lot of interest in our plans for Stafford.”
Stafford Borough Council has been assembling land for its regeneration proposals for several years.
The authority bought up the struggling Guildhall shopping centre in 2023, and in August last year the authority snapped up the former Wilko store on Broad Street, with both properties now demolished to make way for a future regeneration scheme.
Vision – how a regenerated Stafford could look under proposals put forward this week. Credit: ArkleBoyce Architects
The former Co-Op site bordering Gaolgate Street and Stafford Street is also included in the plans, which has been backed with £14.3 million from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, awarded in 2020.
As well as being used to purchase key buildings, money from the Future High Streets Fund has already paid for refurbishment of the Market Square and enhanced the approach to the town’s railway station.
The council has also stressed the iconic frontages of both the Guildhall and Co-op will be retained as part of the development.
“What we are looking at is a shift away from tired and vacant shopfronts in a high street that operates primarily in the daytime to a place that people are proud to live in and, equally importantly, want to spend their time in,” added council leader, Cllr Aidan Godfrey.
More information on the Stafford regeneration proposals can be found on Stafford Borough Council’s website.
