Businesses are already expressing an interest in taking over a former town centre department store.
Stafford Borough Council says a handful of businesses have come forward after seeing publicity material about plans to transform the derelict Co-op building in Stafford, which has been empty for more than a decade.
As previously reported by Daily Focus, the local authority is buying the building as part of regeneration plans for the town centre and wants to convert it into a mix of retail and residential use, with a food court and market.
Deputy Leader of the council, Rob Kenney, who has responsibility for town centres, said: “It is great to see how much interest our vision for our town centre is creating – not just within the community, but outside the borough and county as well.
“We have already had a handful of businesses get in touch with us, having seen the proposals for the old Co-op store, to express an interest and asking for more information. “We are really pleased as they are the type of traders – for example artisan producers – that we are keen to attract as our market offer in the empty building.”
He added: “We want residents to be proud of their county town, we want visitors to come and shop, we want people to socialise and spend time using hospitality venues, and we want businesses to invest.”
The council agreed to use government money to buy the Co-op and has also purchased the Guildhall Shopping Centre on the high street.
Other regeneration work going on in the town includes the multi-million-pound Stafford Station Gateway project and £1 million renovation of Market Square.
Council Leader Councillor Aidan Godfrey said in an exclusive Daily Focus interview in February that Stafford will become a county town to be proud of and that businesses will see more positive changes soon.
However, Daily Focus reported last week that another independent trader in the town is due to close soon. Bear Hut Brownies, on Chapel Street, will close its doors on 8 June after being hit with cost increases.
- More information about the Stafford transformation plans can be found here.
When can we expect this to be open?
Probably after years of arguments and childish nit picking the plans will be dropped and the properties will be sold on in an even more derelict condition. Sad but probably true.
No body can relax and entertain staying in Stafford town centre whilst there are £100 fines for parking in a lot of Stafford’s car parks. Restricted parking even in the evening.
Free parking is the answer to get people back into town!
Footfall increases and in turn encourages more shops to open.