Town regeneration scheme moves forward

The council has released an artist's impression showing how the Northern Gateway could look

A council in Staffordshire says it is about to begin the first phase of a town centre regeneration scheme.

Councillors at Cannock Chase District Council will receive an update later this month on the £20m levelling up project, and are expected to give the go-ahead for an initial £9m expenditure.

If approved, construction work could start later in the year, the council said.

The authority is aiming to create a new northern gateway for the town as well as improvements to the Beecroft Road Car Park, and also demolish a former multi-storey car park in the town centre.

Leader of the council, Tony Johnson, said: “I am pleased that we are now close to being able to spend nearly half of the £20m funding allocated by the government and will soon be able to get on and create the improved town centre in Cannock everyone deserves.

“This is an ambitious scheme, where we are working closely with government, the county council and our partners in the community; not least to maximise the best use of the resources we have available which have been affected by inflationary pressures we all know about."

The council said it had already been working behind the scenes to arrange the necessary planning permission and consultations for the scheme.

It said the project would provide a car park with a better layout, wider bays, disabled parking spaces, EV charging points, an area for bikes, trees and new signage.

Later this year, the council is set to consult further with residents and businesses on phase two of its redevelopment plans.