The next step has been made in a scheme to transform a Staffordshire town by redeveloping its shopping centre.
Stafford Borough Council purchased the ailing Guildhall Shopping Centre, in Stafford, earlier this year and a planning application has now been submitted to demolish part of it as well as the adjoining multi-storey car park.
The work will prepare the site for a future developer to create a new commercial and residential offer in the centre of the town.
The historic frontage of the building is to be retained.
A covering letter as part of the planning application states: “The current proposals involve the demolition of part of the vacant shopping centre, apart from the buildings on the eastern frontage along Greengate Street and the existing and occupied buildings at Market Square which are to be retained.
“The commercial buildings along Crabbery Street, along with the commercial buildings fronting St Mary’s Grove do not form part of this application and as such will also be retained.”
The shopping centre comprises 38 business units, an indoor market, and the 255-space car park – which was shut due to safety concerns.
The borough council is looking for contractors to take on the preparatory demolition work – but because of the huge scale of the redevelopment of the site they said they would be looking for a future development partner.
The buildings to be retained on Crabbery Street will be improved to encourage individual outlets to set up in the town centre – with the offices being kept for businesses that front St Mary’s Grove also being enhanced.
Council Deputy Leader, Rob Kenney, said: “We purchased the Guildhall to speed up the pace of major regeneration of the High Street – and I am very pleased to see this application has been submitted to help us move forward with our plans.
“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 demolition programme is expected to last seven to eight months.
An application for the proposed business and homes scheme on the site is expected to be submitted over the next 12 months.
The current planning application is available to view and comment on here.
