A planning application has been submitted by St. Modwen Developments to Stafford Borough Council for a residential redevelopment on part of the Castleworks industrial site, off Castle Street, Stafford.

The application follows a well-attended public consultation event in February that saw a good level of support from the local community for redevelopment of the site to a residential use.  The site currently lies empty with almost 200,000 sq ft of disused former industrial buildings which have been the subject of on-going vandalism and trespassing since the turn of the year. 

St. Modwen has spent some time processing feedback from the public consultation, taking on board comments and refining its planning application which proposes bringing a total of up to 80 new build houses to the site, alongside new public recreational space and upgrading and improving public footpaths and cycle paths adjoining the site.

Richard Hickman, planning manager for St. Modwen, commented:  "The former Castleworks site has stood vacant for some considerable time, but as a brownfield site in a highly accessible location close to the town's services and facilities, it is an ideal site for redevelopment which will positively enhance the local environment. We have given careful consideration to feedback we have received through our local community consultation and we strongly believe that a residential development on that part of the site occupied by the vandalised industrial buildings provides the best solution for the site, minimising the potential traffic from site compared to its former use or its alternative redevelopment for industrial purposes.

"Our aim is to deliver a residential development here that will help address the current housing needs in Stafford, while also providing a high quality and positive development for the site."