Shopping centre demolition plans approved

The plans to demolish the Guildhall Shopping Centre met with unanimous approval from councillors

Plans to demolish a shopping centre, to make way for a new development, have been approved.

The proposals to bulldoze the Guildhall Shopping Centre in Stafford met with unanimous approval from borough councillors although historic features, including the Market Street facade, clock tower and St John’s Market entrance, will be kept.

But one councillor, Bryan Cross, asked why traders in the indoor market were only given three weeks notice that it would close.

The borough council bought the site as part of a major town centre regeneration project.

Plans for that development are set to come forward at a later date.

In September, the borough council’s planning committee approved a separate application for the demolition of most of the former Co-op department store site in Gaolgate Street.

Paul Shuker, who spoke in support of the application, said: "It became clear in 2023 that the previous owner [of the shopping centre] was unable to kick-start the regeneration of the key town centre site, therefore Stafford Borough Council rightly intervened."

He said the new development would be a mix of homes, shops and public spaces.

Mr Cross's concerns about the lack of notice were echoed by another councillor, Marnie Phillips, who said: “Personally it feels a little bit distasteful to be sitting around this application just a few days after the market traders have ceased to trade."

But the council’s development manager John Holmes responded: “What you need to remember is what the purpose of this planning committee is.

"It’s not a policy committee, it’s not a decision on the market itself."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.