Beacon Business Park, on the Weston Road from Stafford to Uttoxeter is set to accommodate a number of new businesses for the town, following planning approval to extend the park by around 50 acres.

The former RAF site, which was purchased by Stafford-based consortium ISE Estates in 2005, currently comprises 22 acres, accommodates 12 businesses and has created 350 jobs since it was sold on by the Ministry of Defence.  

With over 20,500 m2 of warehouse with 24 hour manned security, the business park has been almost fully occupied throughout most of the last few turbulent years and the owners have had to turn away many enquiries from prospective new tenants.

Outline planning permission to develop a further 50 acres to the North of the current site was unanimously approved by Stafford Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday 8 November, in a commitment to generating further economic growth in the town. The proposed expansion of the site is anticipated to generate further accommodation as follows:

• 11,000sqm - B1 office

• 33,000sqm - B1 light industrial

• 16,500sqm - B2 general industrial

• 11,000sqm - warehouse

• 3,000 sqm - other mixed uses (A3, A4, C1 & D1).

"With such a central location, good infrastructure and excellent security, we are confident that we can continue to attract high calibre companies and jobs to Stafford," commented Andrew Bramall, one of the owners of ISE Estates & Trading Ltd. "In these difficult times, approval for this development will benefit the area immediately, demonstrating that Stafford is a place where businesses can come and grow."