Meaford road scheme paves the way for new jobs

Development of a Staffordshire business park, set to support 2,200 jobs on one of the county’s largest brownfield sites, has been given a major boost following the completion of supporting road and infrastructure works.

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Staffordshire County Council and regeneration specialist St Modwen, which jointly funded the works at Meaford, near Stone, marked the milestone at an event with business and civic leaders on July 29.

Following a 12-month construction period, the new infrastructure provides a new roundabout on the A34, improvements to Meaford Road and a new access serving St Modwen’s Meaford Business Park. Meaford Road has been realigned and access for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders has also been improved.

Extending to around 85 acres, Meaford Business Park has outline planning permission for up to 1.2 million sq ft of office, industrial and warehouse development and detailed permission was granted last month for a 36,000 sq ft unit.

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership chairman, David Frost CBE, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the latest in a series of development schemes across the area being delivered on schedule and on budget. It is yet another demonstration of the can-do attitude and successful partnership working across the private and public sector in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

“We look forward to continued success in our ambitions to bring more and better jobs to our region, creating a thriving economy and flourishing local communities.”

The road and infrastructure project was carried out by Staffordshire County Council with the backing of the Government’s Local Growth Fund, together with significant contributions from St Modwen. A total of £6million was also secured by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Staffordshire County Council’s economy leader, Mark Winnington, said: “The Meaford scheme has been another successful construction project delivered by the county council on time and on budget. The new road improvements will provide essential infrastructure for the site, enabling St. Modwen to develop a leading business park for the wider region.

“Meaford Business Park is being built on one of Staffordshire’s largest undeveloped brownfield site and provides another example of how councils, the LEP and developers are working effectively together to bring more jobs and growth to Staffordshire.”

Euan Lindsay, senior development manager at St Modwen, said: “The provision of the improved access to the Meaford Business Park is a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the former power station site. We look forward to progressing the development and securing the inward investment and job opportunities that this will generate for the area.”

Pictured are Mark Winnington, Jonathan Dale (lead for the Businesses, Growth & Innovation Sub-Group in the LEP), David Frost and Ian Parry, deputy leader of the county council .