Posted on Wednesday 13th October 2021
How the Eastgate development could look
A road in Stafford town centre will reopen to traffic this week as a major regeneration scheme progresses.
The section of South Walls close to the Riverside retail area has been closed for the last month while demolition of the former magistrates’ court building takes place. It will reopen this Friday October 15.
People are being reminded that the bus gate order in South Walls close to the Nationwide Building Society will be operational again from Friday. No vehicles other than buses or taxis should be entering South Walls from the Bridge Street/Greengate Street roundabout.
That building, together with the former probation service building next door, are being demolished by the county council to make way for future development as part of a wider regeneration programme for the Eastgate area of the town centre.
South Walls has been closed in both directions so that demolition work could take place safely. Access to businesses and the Civic Centre has been maintained throughout.
After the demolition has been completed, the land will be temporarily used as a private car park while plans are developed for the permanent use of the site.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said:
We’re pleased to reopen South Walls this week on schedule following completion of the first phase of demolition works.
This is paving the way for future development and wider regeneration of the town centre – so this is a really exciting time for Stafford.
We’re working closely with our colleagues at Stafford Borough Council and it’s great to see the scheme progressing as we move forward from the pandemic.
We’d again like to thank people and businesses for their patience during the closure period.”
Staffordshire County Council bought the former magistrates court in early 2021, adding to the former probation service buildings which were already in the council’s ownership, to support future development of the town centre site as part of the Eastgate regeneration programme. The magistrates court closed five years ago following a Government decision.
It will mean potential developers and future occupiers will be able to take advantage of securing a significant area of land in a prime central location. The buildings are next to each other between South Walls and Eastgate Street.
The Eastgate regeneration programme also includes the county council-owned Wedgwood and St Chad’s buildings, which could be developed for a potential mix of residential, commercial or hospitality use. Regenerating this area will also provide improvements to the link between the town centre and Riverside retail units. Images of how the new development could look have been released today.
The programme is one of a number of interlinked regeneration projects to vastly improve the vitality of the county town particularly after the pandemic, attracting investment, new jobs, visitors and residents. These include the Future High Street programme, Shire Hall regeneration, Stafford Gateway project and Stafford Western Access Route and will follow the borough council’s improvement programme at Victoria Park.