Green light for bid to secure £25 million boost in Stafford town centre

The borough council has given the green light for up to £150,000 to be spent on developing a business case.

Stafford is one of the towns still in the running for a slice of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund after a successful expression of interest put forward earlier this year.

As a result Stafford Borough Council has been awarded £150,000 towards preparing for the next stage of the bidding process. And last Thursday senior council members gave the go-ahead for the grant to be spent.

Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning, said: “This is part of a very good news story about regeneration of Stafford – the north end of town in particular and the High Street.

“It’s to recommend approval to spend a Government grant of up to £150,000 during the next financial year to develop a full business case for proposals for transformational change within Stafford town centre.”

Councillor Jonathan Price, cabinet member for environment, added: “I welcome this, it’s fantastic. It just goes to show this council is extremely proactive, especially when it comes to our High Streets.”

A report to Thursday’s cabinet meeting said: "The £150,000 of grant funding has been paid to Stafford Borough Council for the purposes of progressing the Future High Streets Fund Full Business Case with the opportunity to receive up to £25m capital grant.

"Following receipt of the funding the council has appointed consultants to support the delivery of the business case who will provide valuation and appraisal work as appropriate. The business case must be submitted by no later than 30 April 2020."

Stafford is not the only town in the county bidding for a share of the Future High Streets Fund however.

Newcastle Under Lyme and Tamworth have also been shortlisted to go forward to the next stage of the bidding process. But bids for Cheadle and Stoke on Trent town Longton were unsuccessful.