Staffordshire developments to create 5,000 jobs

It includes bringing to life a commercial development at the 90-acre former Royal Ordnance munitions factory site, just north of the M54 at Featherstone.

This would create up to 2,800 jobs.

Approval also means that funding could be sought for construction work for a sixth business innovation centre at Keele University and infrastructure work at Chatterley Valley near Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Staffordshire County Council's commitment to the plans was approved at a cabinet meeting last week.

The council's economy leader Mark Winnington said: "The cabinet approval is another significant milestone on our journey to ensure Staffordshire is a county where people have opportunities to get better paid and better skilled jobs.

"We have continued low out-of-work claimant count figures but we must continue to increase quality employment.

"We can now progress with three more major business developments which will create upwards of 5,000 jobs.

"This follows our delivery of projects with £100 million worth of investment at site which will accommodate some 10,000 jobs. We are making conditions right for business whilst improving opportunities and with our partners making every effort to boost skills and productivity."

Following the decision, the design and project management for the three developments will start and the council can begin to apply for the multi-million pound funding needed.

The factory site will involve building a new link road to the A460, carrying out road improvements and building a new roundabout entrance to the site.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Enterprise Partnership chairman David Frost CBE said: "These developments are great illustrations of how we are working together across the public and private sectors to bring jobs and sustained growth to our area.

"We are delighted to see that our ambitions to create more and better jobs benefitting local communities are taking shape on the ground. Development is really picking up pace and it is clear that Staffordshire is proving an increasingly attractive place for businesses to locate and to grow.

"This is a can-do county, and we have an unbeatable combination of a central UK location, great development sites and a skilled, enthusiastic workforce."

At Chatterley Valley , the 94-acre site lies within the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone which will make it even more attractive to investors. It is estimated that when fully developed, the site could accommodate 2,150 jobs.

While the costs of each project has yet to be finalised, the council will look to secure funding from central government and reclaim money through business rate retention and from developers.