North West firms plot multi-million pound transformation of 16-acre brownfield site

Two North West firms have signed an agreement to transform a 16-acre brownfield site in Staffordshire into a mixed-use development.

Rochdale-based building firm Casey Group and Chester manufacturer Barnfield Hughes, which owns the land, plan to turn a former concrete batching facility in Leek into 175 new residential units.

Outline planning consent is already in place for homes at the Sunnyhills Road site, in addition to employment and tourism uses that could include a new canal basin.

The project’s development team, with chartered surveyors Roger Hannah & Co representing Barnfield Hughes, has met with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to discuss how the development can be brought forward in phases.

A detailed planning application will be submitted in late autumn for the scheme’s first phase, which will deliver 60 homes with a combined value of between £10m and £12m.

Survey and site investigation work is already underway.

Barnfield Hughes MD Dominic Hughes said: “We are delighted to be working with the Casey Group to deliver this important mixed use development scheme for Leek, which will build on the outline planning consent granted for 175 residential units and leisure uses, and will enhance the benefits of the country park and canal for the town.”

Casey Group development director John Gilman commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity to regenerate a former brownfield site and bring this area back to life, bringing much needed new homes and potential leisure uses.

“It also presents the opportunity to expand the range of quality services that the Casey Group consistently delivers.”

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Leader Councillor Sybil Ralphs, the authority’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Redeveloping and regenerating Cornhill is a key aim of the council as set out in our masterplan for the area.

Developments such as this are the cornerstone of that masterplan so it’s great to see good progress being made on bringing this site back into use.“

She continued: “For our part, the Council is working hard with our partners to bring forward other elements, such as the access road, and to ensure we are able to realise the potential of Cornhill for the benefit of Moorlands residents and businesses.”