Work has begun to prepare a former manufacturing site in Stafford for redevelopment as part of a major regeneration scheme.
A former garage on the old Saint Gobain site off Doxey Road, close to the railway line, is being demolished.
The county council-owned land will form part of the Stafford Station Gateway project, planning to bring new homes and businesses to the area.
The 15-acre site need to be remediated before any development work can take place, and trial works for the process will begin in January before the main remediation works start towards the end of 2026.
Staffordshire County Council has said local communities and businesses will be consulted and kept up to date throughout the train works and main land preparation works.
Martin Murray, the county council’s acting leader, said: “As a key partner of the Stafford Station Gateway scheme, we’re keen to ensure the land preparation begins as soon as possible to ready it for major development.
“This is a significant area of the regeneration site close to the western access route and the railway. Through remediating the site, it will enable it to be developed but this does take time.
“We will of course keep nearby communities and businesses up to date with plans and work progress.
“Seeing activity on site represents another milestone, instils investor confidence and helps us to build on our growth plans here at the beating heart of the UK economy.”
Up to £16.5 million of £20 million secured from the Government by Stafford Borough Council will be allocated to the Doxey Road works.
Borough council leader Aiden Godfrey said: “Everyone visiting Stafford town centre will see the significant regeneration already taking place – including recent improvements to the entrance, and approach, to our railway station – the gateway to the centre of our town.
“The Stafford Station Gateway project is another part of that overall vision to transform the county town, and the work underway on this key site will provide a catalyst for further progress of our ambitious plans.
“The money we have already attracted to support the regeneration of our town is testament to the confidence that investors and the government have in us, and our partners, being able to deliver significant growth in the area.
“We are perfectly placed by road, rail, and air for new businesses to flourish and the Stafford Gateway will be a thriving, vibrant new community within the town where people want to live, work and visit and all sustainably connected to the railway station.”
