Plans for a new BT 'street hub' have been signed off for Stafford town centre.

Council planners have given the green light for the facility on Princes Street.

Planned to sit near the Katharine House Hospice shop, the hub will have two 75 inch LCD screens and be free to use.

Designed as a modern phone box, the hubs carry huge adverts on each side as well as providing Wi-Fi and phone services.

"Overall, Street Hubs will help future-proof the high street making them smarter, safer, and more sustainable," BT said in its application. 

"Investment in the high street is at an all-time low, but that has not slowed BT down as they look to ramp up their rollout of new Street Hubs across the UK. 

"They are continuing their commitment to invest and improve in the high street, with one Street Hub at a time."

Both planning permission and advertising consent for the works were signed off by Stafford Borough Council in February.

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Approving the plans, a council report said: "The addition of the panels will not lead to the immediate area becoming unduly 'cluttered' with advertisement material despite the presence of other freestanding signs in the street. 

"They will also be seen against the 'backdrop' of, and will relate reasonably well to, other street furniture here (including other advertisement panels, streetlights, planters and benches). 

"Taking all of the above factors into consideration it is considered, on balance, that despite the views of the council's conservation officer the signs will, in this instance, appear in scale and keeping with their surroundings and will reasonably safeguard the character and appearance of the street scene. 

"The proposals are therefore considered to be acceptable in visual amenity terms in this case."

Click here to see the full planning application.