The next phase of works to create access to a major new Staffordshire employment site will move to its next phase at the end of July.

Staffordshire County Council is carrying the works to improve access to the Four Ashes Business Park, paving the way for the relocation of automotive parts manufacturer Gestamp. The 52-acre site in South Staffordshire is being developed by Bericote Properties, providing 900,000 square feet of industrial floor space and accommodating over 1,000 jobs.

Access to the site will be off the A449 along Gravelly Way and improvements are being made to the junction. Funded by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership through the Government’s Local Growth Fund, the work will involve creating a traffic signalled junction. In addition, toucan crossings will be installed and pedestrian and cycle routes improved.

In order for the work to take place safely, phased lane closures will be put in place and there will be a temporary 40mph limit in place on that stretch of road. There will also be some night-time closures of the A449 at the junction as well as six weekend closures. The first weekend closure will take place next Friday July 28, from 9pm until 5am on Monday July 31. The second will take place the following weekend, on Friday August 4 from 9pm until 5am on Monday August 7. All works will be completed by late autumn.

All works and traffic management will be suspended over the weekend of the V Festival, from midnight on Thursday August 17 to midnight on Monday August 21. Staffordshire County Council’s economic growth leader Mark Winnington said: “Work to improve access to the Four Ashes site continues at pace and the development of the new Gestamp facility is well under way. This will be yet another thriving hub for business and see more job creation in Staffordshire. Good access is vital to ensure we meet the needs of business and we are pleased to have been able to support Gestamp’s relocation and expansion within the county. These works have been coordinated with Highways England’s resurfacing of the A449 to minimise disruption and all works will be completed by late autumn. We’d like to thank people in advance for their patience through the works period.”

The project received a £1.91million allocation of the Local Growth Fund in addition to developer contributions.