Transforming Telford

Within weeks of publishing its vision for the redevelopment of the Southwater area in Telford’s town centre, Transforming Telford and Meeting Point Trust are undertaking a feasibility study into the potential uses for the new Meeting Point House. It is proposed that the existing building should be rebuilt as part of extensive plans for the new town centre.

Transforming Telford and the Trustees of Meeting Point House have jointly appointed DBA Management, advisers specialising in managing change for community and voluntary sector organisations. DBA will talk to users and tenants and the wider Voluntary Church and Community sector. This will help the Trustees explore the potential uses and benefits which could be brought to the community by a relocated Meeting Point House in a purpose built new building.

Sarah Raper, Chief Executive of Transforming Telford, said, “Our vision for the town centre is about bringing real heart and soul to Telford. Meeting Point House is critical to this and the scoping and feasibility study will help us all to understand how the new building should be developed to get the most out of it for the local community. The team at DBA brings much experience to the project so we look forward to receiving their feedback.”

Meeting Point House, which is located close to Southwater Lake in the town centre core, is home to Telford and Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service, Telford Christian Council and Stay, Age Concern, Relate, A4U (formerly DIAL), the Catholic Children’s Society, Charities Aid Foundation, Homestart, the Community Foundation for Shropshire and Telford and the Chapel of Christ the King. It is also used by a wide variety of charity, faith, private and public sector groups. It is managed by its Trustees, who established a special group especially to oversee the feasibility study.

Reverend David Lavender, Ecumenical Dean of Telford and Chair of the Trustees said “This is a great opportunity for the community and voluntary organisations currently using Meeting Point House and others to pass on their thoughts and views about its future. Meeting Point House has served Telford people well for almost twenty years. The Trustees want to grasp this opportunity to look at how it’s potential can be developed for the future”.

DBA have worked on similar projects including the Resource Centre for BME communities in Wolverhampton, the Brodsworth Miners Welfare centre in Yorkshire and the reprovision of YMCA facilities in Derby. Their work on the Meeting Point House feasibility study commences in December and is due to be completed in the early spring.

ENDS

Note to editor:

Transforming Telford has been working closely with Telford & Wrekin Council, English Partnerships and Advantage West Midlands on the vision document, which will be complemented by a number of other emerging proposals. The Town Centre box road, that currently contains the central retail and commercial area, could be downgraded in part to allow for improved access to the rail and bus services, the Town Park, retail area and Southwater Square. Surface car parking will be replaced with multi-storey parking and the public realm greatly improved, with Southwater Square an early focus for the Council’s Public Realm Design Strategy.

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