Staffordshire University could move out of Stafford

About 7,000 full and part time students are based in Stafford

Staffordshire University could move out of Stafford, taking 7,000 students and 518 staff out of the area.

A university consultation on whether to close its Stafford base ends next week.

It has been revamping its Leek Road and College Road campus in Stoke-on-Trent, with more than £42m invested over the past two years.

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy said closure would have "a substantial impact" on students, the local economy and the town's housing market.

'People like Stafford'

He said: "It matters tremendously. I very much hope the board of governors will decide to stay in Stafford.

"Staffordshire University has the advantage of offering two campuses, one very much a city centre campus and one a town, a more rural campus.

Staffordshire University's £30m science centre opened in Stoke-on-Trent in 2012

"People like to be in Stafford."

About 11,500 of the university's 18,500 students are based in Stoke-on-Trent.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire University said it was "aware of the concerns" of Stafford students and other stakeholders and had held open discussions about the future of the university site.

The university will decide the future of the Stafford site on 29 January.