Shopping centre to be bought by council

A shopping centre in Staffordshire will now be bought by a local council, after a deal to sell it fell through earlier this year.

Leaders at East Staffordshire Borough Council agreed to use compulsory purchase powers to get The Maltings, in Uttoxeter, in order to redevelop the site.

The council hopes a planning application will be submitted early in the new year after a consultation with residents over its future.

A final design will be drawn up by architects and planning consultants will be appointed in the coming weeks, the authority said.

Owner M J Barrett Group withdrew from selling the site in September, a fortnight before it was due to complete, in favour of an alternative bidder who it said intended to refurbish the centre instead of redeveloping it.

East Staffordshire Borough Council said it was completely committed to the full regeneration of the shops and had budgeted more than £1m for the project.

However, a report to council leaders warns the authority may not have the money available once the cost of the compulsory purchase is factored in, meaning development work at the site might need to be done in phases.

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

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