Preparation Underway for Key Stafford Site in Ambitious Regeneration Scheme

Groundwork is set to advance next week on a crucial development site in Stafford, paving the way for a transformative regeneration project aimed at introducing new homes and businesses to the area.

The land, owned by Staffordshire County Council and located off Doxey Road, is integral to the Stafford Station Gateway initiative. This collaborative effort between Stafford Borough Council and the county council seeks to revitalize the region around the railway station.

Originally the site of the Saint Gobain manufacturing facility, the property was purchased by the county council in 2018 to facilitate the Stafford western access route, which has since been completed. Demolition of the industrial structures cleared the path for redevelopment, but the 15-acre plot requires extensive remediation due to its former industrial use.

Trial excavation works are scheduled to commence next week, with full-scale remediation anticipated to begin late 2026 or early 2027, pending planning approval. Recently, in December, a garage building near the railway was torn down as part of the preparations.

Funding for the project includes £20 million secured by Stafford Borough Council from the government, of which up to £16.5 million is earmarked specifically for the Doxey Road site. Throughout the process, local residents and businesses will be engaged through consultations and regular updates.

Martin Murray, acting leader of Staffordshire County Council, expressed enthusiasm about the progress: “As a key partner of the Stafford Station Gateway scheme, we’re pleased that the land preparation is now beginning to ready it for major development. This is a significant area of the regeneration site close to the western access route and the railway. Through remediating the site, it will enable it to be developed but this does take time. We will of course keep nearby communities and businesses up to date with plans and work progress. Seeing activity on site represents another milestone, instils investor confidence and helps us to build on our growth plans here at the beating heart of the country.”

Adding to the area’s momentum, a new Institute of Technology operated by the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group has opened adjacent to the railway line. Backed by £13 million in government funding and supported by partners including Stafford Borough Council, Keele University, Siemens, and Dell, the institute represents a boost to education and innovation in the region.

Stafford Borough Council leader Aidan Godfrey highlighted the broader impact: “Everyone visiting Stafford town centre will see the significant regeneration already taking place - including recent improvements to the entrance, and approach, to our railway station - the gateway to the centre of our town. The Stafford Station Gateway project is another part of that overall vision to transform the county town, and the work underway on this key site will provide the catalyst for further progress of our ambitious plans. The money we have already attracted to support the regeneration of our town is testament to the confidence that investors and the government have in us, and our partners, being able to deliver significant growth in the area. 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.”

This development marks a pivotal step in Stafford’s ongoing transformation, promising economic growth and enhanced connectivity for the community.