THOUSANDS of jobs could be created if plans for an £8.5 million business park are given the go ahead.

Staffordshire County Council wants to build a new business park at Redhill, on land off the A34 in Stafford.

The authority hopes the proposals, which could see the creation of more than 2,500 jobs, will provide the research and technology sector with a site to open units for manufacturing and production businesses.

The plans form part of the county council's initiative to improve the local economy and create jobs.

And the authority hopes the scheme will mirror the successes of the Lymedale Business Park in Newcastle, Staffordshire Technology Park in Stafford and Towers Business Park in Rugeley.

Ben Adams, cabinet member for economic growth and enterprise, said the new park could transform the regional economy.

He added: "We are committed to delivering high quality jobs in Staffordshire.

"This new business park in Stafford will create 2,500 when occupied; hugely significant for our county and the region.

"We have set out our clear position nationally on improving the economy and wider prosperity in Staffordshire; developing new successful business parks, investing in existing ones to increase their viability, attracting leading global businesses and associated companies and setting out plans for major regeneration of our town centres."

The authority invested more than £18.5 million into the i54 business park in South Staffordshire, which attracted car giants Jaguar and Land Rover, and invested a further £6 million in the Keele University Science Park, which created 600 jobs.

Maitland Hyslop, chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, pictured left, has welcomed the plans.

He said: "Redhill is a priority for the Local Economic Partnership (LEP) and for Staffordshire County Council, behind other areas such as Etruria and Keele. It is part and parcel of what we are trying to do, and if we create these jobs and these opportunities then people will come.

"Looking at what happened with Jaguar and Land Rover proves that Redhill would be a good place to put some more facilities such as this.

"There is a need for it.

"People will worry that the jobs will compete against those in Stoke-on-Trent, but I do not think that will be the case."

The authority, which has worked closely with Stafford Borough Council in preparing the plans, hopes to submit an application next month.

If approved, work on the development could begin in September and could be completed as early as spring 2013.

The plans are now set to go on display at a public exhibition, where residents are invited to view them.

The exhibition takes place in the Chelmsford Suite, at the Stafford North Hurricane Premier Inn, Hurricane Close, Stafford.

It will take place on Wednesday, February 29 and will run between 4pm and 8pm.