New local retail centre and meeting place in Branston, Burton-on-Trent, granted planning permission

St. Modwen’s plans to create a new local retail centre and meeting place in Branston, Burton-on-Trent, have been granted planning permission by East Staffordshire Borough Council.

Located off Main Street in Branston Village, the new ‘Branston Square’ centre will boast five new shops, car parking, bicycle storage and a new community garden with high quality landscaping and public seating. Around 20 jobs will be generated in the construction of the centre and when the shops open for trading.

Branston Square is part of a 175 acre Staffordshire community called Branston Leas that is being developed by St. Modwen that will also boast 660 family homes enjoying views of the River Trent, play facilities, green space and hundreds of new jobs.

Ian Romano, senior development surveyor at St. Modwen, said: “With more than 600 new homes now under construction at Branston Leas, Branston Square will help cater for the expanding community. Construction work is set to begin this spring and the Square is set to open for trading in 2016.”

Councillor Mike Ackroyd, chairman of Branston Parish Council, said: “Branston Square will be an important addition for our local community, complementing and enhancing the excellent shops we already have on Main Street. As a safe and welcoming environment for all, we envisage the community garden becoming an important meeting point and a centre for our expanding community.”

The new Branston Leas community is quickly coming to life. Construction work is underway on the 660 three, four and five bedroom family homes, and an extension to Rykneld Primary School is due to complete this summer. Work on the new Burton Gateway Business Park, which is set to create up to 1,500 new local jobs, will begin later this year.