East Staffordshire Borough Council announces exciting High Street Regeneration update

East Staffordshire Borough Council has today shared exciting plans for the regeneration of Burton upon Trent High Street, which includes concepts for a reimagined National Brewery Centre attraction.

The High Street project, already underway with the enhancement of The Washlands, to include new wetlands, wildlife habitats and forest play area, has today been joined by the announcement of new concepts for the site, developed in conjunction with key partners, Sarner International Ltd, Franklin Ellis Architects and the National Brewery Heritage Trust, in consultation with Council Members and Burton Town Deal Board.

The ambitious plans to regenerate the riverside area between the High Street and The Washlands, follows a successful bid to the Towns Fund programme and further productive talks with representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has resulted in an approved funding expression of interest worth £10,000,000, alongside positive engagement with hospitality operators, investors and organisations from within the brewing industry.

The projects include the refurbishment of Bass House into an immersive Brewing Heritage & Social History Experience, which incorporates the National Brewery Heritage Archive, the ongoing refurbishment of Burton Library ground floor into a vibrant, multi-purpose, accessible and inclusive library space delivered by Staffordshire County Council, Town House which will be sensitively refurbished with a range of potential future uses, conversion of The Water Tower to create an interactive attraction and observation experience, a Plaza for public events and festivals such as the recent Sonic Boom festival, a Washlands Visitor Centre, supported by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to include exhibition space, learning environment and café, and conversion of Carling House into a modern, upmarket hotel supporting the wider visitor experience. All of this to complement the Washlands Enhancement Programme, which is currently underway.

Residents can get up close to the reimagined Brewery Centre attraction proposals, in a series of guided public tours of parts of Bass House, which will incorporate the National Brewery Heritage Archive. Following the public tours of Bass House, the concept designs for all the High Street projects will be available for public viewing at the Brewery Heritage Centre, Station Street, Burton upon Trent. This means residents able to attend the tour events will get an exclusive first look at the project concepts and design imagery before this is published online.

In addition, residents can also find out more about the project in a public meeting, to be held at Burton Town Hall on Tuesday 12th November from 18:00 to 20:00, where there will be an opportunity for questions to members of the Council, officers and development partners.

Cllr Rob Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “It is wonderful to see such progress being made on both the Brewery Heritage Centre and the wider High Street Project. To those interested in Burton’s brewing and social history I encourage you to book yourself onto one of the many guided tours around Bass House and learn more about the concept plans for the reimagined Brewery Centre.”

Dr Harry White, Chairman of the National Brewery Heritage Trust, said: “The National Brewery Heritage Trust has been advising East Staffordshire Borough Council since the start of the project and we are pleased to be at the stage where the Council can reveal the initial plans. It is our mission to share the importance of the brewing and pub industry with the people of the town and beyond.

“We are excited by the plans and believe the development promises to make Burton upon Trent the national hub of British brewing and pub heritage. We will continue to play an active part in this exciting project and would encourage residents to book onto the tours at Bass House and take a look for themselves.”

For more information or to comment on the plans, please contact enterprise.team@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk or to keep up with the ongoing development of the project, visit the High Street Project page.