Approval of plans yesterday to regenerate Stafford town centre on two sites has been welcomed by the county council’s economy leader.

Staffordshire County Council has worked closely with Stafford Borough Council to secure the exciting new retail-led developments at Kingsmead and Riverside.

Cabinet member for economic growth and enterprise Ben Adams said: “The regeneration of our town centres is a vital part of our drive to improve the county’s economy.

“Securing major developments on these sites will create jobs, attract even more people to Stafford town centre and boost the retail offer to county residents and visitors. This will have benefits for the whole community.

“The county council is playing a key role in ensuring the vitality of our town centres and in this case has used a land asset for an important retail project, working with our colleagues at the borough council to offer an attractive overall package.

“A recent national retail report showed that Stafford has seen increasing numbers of people visiting the town at a time when others have seen a decrease.

“This has been helped significantly by our opening of Staffordshire Place and relocation of over 1,000 of our employees into the town centre.

“This is yet another economic success story. There is a real sense in Staffordshire that 2012 has started very well for business in the county.”

Plans submitted to Stafford Boroough Council by LXB Retail Properties were approved yesterday. They include a 71,500 sq ft foodstore at the county-council owned Kingsmead site which has been pre-let to Morrisons and a 200,000 sq ft retail scheme at Riverside. Marks and Spencer has signed a 25-year lease on a 65,000 sq ft, two-storey unit at Riverside.