Civil engineering company McPhillips (Wellington) Limited has been selected to transform Market Square in Stafford.

Stafford Borough Council and McPhillips Wellington are now discussing timelines to get work underway.

The company was commended in the 'Project of the Year' category at a recent civil engineering awards ceremony for their work on the historic Shrewsbury Town Centre Modernisation Works.

Councillor Frances Beatty, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: "The quality of tenders we received from contractors bidding for this very important piece of work was excellent and I’m really pleased we are able to announce McPhillips Wellington as our choice to move this exciting project forward."

The Market Square is only part of the regeneration plan for the town centre which has been funded by more than £14 million from the government's 'Future High Street Fund' (FHSF) - and contributions from Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council.

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The plans will enable the area to be equipped to hold more events and specialist markets - attracting local people and visitors to the heart of the county town. That will include enhancing the look of the ‘Square’ with new paving, furniture, and planting - but also significant infrastructure changes such as improvements to utility supplies and drainage.

It follows the reopening of the iconic Shire Hall in the 'Square' as a business enterprise hub this summer.

Some preliminary work will get underway towards the end of the year which will not impact on the busy Christmas period and ensure festive events are not affected.

There has already been a huge amount of investment in the town in recent times - with the opening of the £63m Western Access Road, work underway on the £23 million state of the art skills and engineering facility at Stafford College as well as the new Shire Hall enterprise hub, and £2.5m restoration of Victoria Park.

Money has been secured by the county council for the £7.1m Staffordshire History Centre, off Eastgate Street, and the FHSF will also be funding work to improve the landscape outside the front of Stafford Railway Station, with other projects within the town expected to be announced in the future.