A Shelton footpath is set to be diverted as part of the creation of a new "student village" at Staffordshire University.

Plans to build new student accommodation and demolish existing halls of residence at the Leek Road campus came forward last year and were granted planning permission by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in March.

New accommodation is earmarked for land off Lordship Lane, as well as educational, social and support space. Existing accommodation at Clarice Cliff Court is set be refurbished and a new campus park to be created.

734 existing flats on the Leek Road campus will be demolished and replaced with 715 new ones (Nub News).

The land earmarked for development includes a footpath however, on Tuesday the council's Public Rights of Way Panel backed plans for this route to be diverted after hearing that the proposal had been supported by the Peak and Northern Footpath Society and councillors representing Hanley Park, Joiner's Square and Shelton.

A report to the panel said: "Planning permission gives the landowner consent to build but it does not give permission to obstruct a public right of way. For the development to be completed the rights of way require extinguishing or diverting.

"The path to be diverted will provide connectivity to the remaining wider rights of way network. It will also have the surface improved to be accessible to the wider community in all but the worst of weather, so contributing to the health of the local community and providing a more sustainable option than short car journeys."

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READ MORE: Plans revealed to transform historic Stoke-on-Trent pub into retail unit and flats

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