Gestamp's Cannock factory site earmarked for 180 new homes

Gestamp Tallent, which is moving to a mammoth new £70 million site in Four Ashes, has submitted plans to turn its factory on Wolverhampton Road in Cannock into 180 homes and 30,000 sq ft of industrial space. The firm is also looking at keeping a state of the art training base at the site, which it plans to vacate later this year.

The car parts manufacturer is one of Cannock's major employers and announced its move to South Staffordshire last year.

Its plans for the site, which were submitted to Cannock Chase District Council earlier this month, will be decided on later this year by the council's planning bosses.

Ian Middleton, the UK chairman of Gestamp Tallent, told the Express & Star: "We have not really got a plan when the work will start if the plans are approved. We have obviously got our new factory that we plan to move into.

"These plans are progressive rather than a drastic step. The facility will be used for residential and commercial which fits in with what we, the council and the site's neighbours want to see.

"It will be progressive in the sense that realistically it will take two/three years. People will not see homes popping up in 12 months time."

Currently Cannock Chase District Council gets £144,000 per year from the site in business rates and said it would have to wait and see how the sit e develops before it knows the true financial impact.

Finance director Bob Kean said: "The council is naturally disappointed that Gestamp will be moving out of the district and has made every effort to retain the business in the district, but ultimately recognised that the relocation was necessary to secure the future for the workforce of the company.

"The direct impact on the council is clearly dependant upon when and how the existing site is developed and the potential business rates and council tax arising from the development. The current income retained by the council for business rates for the site amounts to £144,000 per annum and this reduction has been factored into the council's financial plan."

Rather than leave Cannock completely, Gestamp is hoping to set up a new training facility at its Wolverhampton Road site.

Mr Middleton said: "Cannock council have been absolutely fantastic with us and what I want to do is set up a state of the art training facility. We want to train people with skills that are needed to get jobs in the industry. Not just for us but for the likes of Jaguar Landrover and Toyota as well."