Better jobs promise of £32m Lichfield Park

The £32 million Lichfield Park scheme is the first project to get off the ground using funding secured through Staffordshire's £82.2million Government growth deal to support a range of projects drawn up by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Although it was only announced last summer, highways improvements have already seen a bridge demolished over the West Coast Main Line as part of plans to improve links to the major industrial park and warehouse development which is next to the A38, and has direct access to Lichfield Trent Valley train station.

David Frost, chairman of the SSLEP, joined Councillor Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for economy, environment and transport; park developer Andrew Blevins, managing director of Liberty's UK operation; development manager Tony Nash and construction director Alex Morgan, both of Stoford Developments, on site to see how the scheme was progressing.

Mr Frost said: "Our priority is delivering not just more jobs but better jobs for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and it is fantastic to see our first growth deal project taking shape so quickly."

To support the scheme the road network on to the site is being improved, including replacing the road bridge over the West Coast Main Line.

Councillor Winnington said: "As a county council we have an excellent track record of working with both public and private sector partners to deliver new jobs and opportunities for Staffordshire residents and the fact this scheme has got off the ground so quickly is a great example of how well this partnership can work.

"Lichfield Park is the first deal to get off the ground and we expect the scheme to create over 1,000 jobs which will be a significant boost for the area and the county."

Mr Blevins said: "It is exciting to see progress being made at the Lichfield Park site. Providing the new car park facilities, an improved road and the removal of the bridge are the first steps towards delivering what is an important 435,000 sq ft industrial and warehouse development for the region."

Mr Nash, director of Birmingham-based Stoford, said: "We are looking forward to developing the scheme and are delighted to see this major employment project progress so quickly."

In the spring, the next phase of highways improvements will see the first of 12 concrete beams lifted into place as part of the scheme to build a new, reinforced 26-metre bridge.

The Lichfield Park industrial park and warehouse development is being created on land between Burton Old Road, the A38 and the West Coast Main Line and has detailed planning consent.

It is being marketed by letting consultants CBRE and NRS, who are already talking terms with potential occupiers.