Plans to bring an indoor market back to Stafford have received £10 million in Government funding, supporting proposals to transform the former Guildhall Shopping Centre site into a new destination for shopping, food, drink and events.
What’s new: The Government has announced £10 million to support plans for a new indoor market hall in Stafford town centre.
Why it matters: The proposed market would bring independent shops, food stalls, cafés, bars and event space to the former Guildhall Shopping Centre site.
The big picture: The funding adds to Stafford's wider regeneration programme, which previously received £14.3 million from the Future High Streets Fund.
This article is based on reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a BBC funded initiative set up to strengthen reporting on local democratic issues. The Staffordshire Signal has taken part in the scheme since September 2026, which means we're able to draw on a selection of LDRS stories alongside our own.
Plans to bring an indoor market space back to Stafford have received a £10m boost from the Government.
The funding was confirmed by Chancellor John Healey in this week’s Budget (Wednesday) and follows a campaign by Stafford MP Leigh Ingham.
Mr Healey said:
“This Labour government is proud to invest in towns like Stafford, and when we talk about growth in every postcode this is exactly what we mean. I know how hard Leigh works for her constituency – brilliant work has already started to regenerate Stafford town centre and create a High Street of the future.”
The county town’s previous indoor market closed two years ago and been demolished, alongside much of the neighbouring Guildhall Shopping Centre. The site is earmarked for regeneration by Stafford Borough Council, which received £14.3m from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund to transform the town in 2021.
A new market hall has been proposed for the former shopping centre site. It is set to provide space for independent businesses including shops, food stalls, cafés and bars, as well as an area for events.
Ms Ingham said:
“Stafford is a market town. We should have a market, it’s as simple as that.
“When the market closed, we lost more than somewhere to shop, somewhere to go and something to do. We lost a place where people met and where people had another reason to come into our town centre.
“I’ve spent ages making the case to Government that Stafford deserves better, and I’m delighted that we’ve secured the £10m needed to start putting that right. The market has always been an important part of Stafford’s identity, and securing this funding means we can finally be a proud market town again, with a vibrant destination for residents, visitors and businesses alike.
“People want to see Stafford town centre doing well again. So do I, and this is a big
step towards making that happen.”
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