Transforming Telford

Transforming Telford is the Economic Development Company for Telford and Wrekin. It is responsible for the long-term transformation of Telford, helping to create a strong and sustainable community and to enable Telford to fulfil its wider role as a sub-regional focus for growth.

Chief Executive, Sarah Raper explains: “The strategy to achieve our goals involves a close working partnership with the Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor (WTTC) and the University of Wolverhampton to help raise the profile of Telford within the wider business community as well as promoting the area as a leading technology centre in the West Midlands.

“This is being achieved by driving economic growth and investment as well as physical regeneration and development. Our founding partners, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), national regeneration agency English Partnerships (EP) and Telford & Wrekin Council are fully supportive of these proposals.”

Transforming Telford is responsible for two main growth areas– business and investment services and physical projects. The business and investment team is responsible for economic development through inward investment, investor development and business and leisure tourism services. The projects team oversee a number of physical developments including the renaissance of Telford Town Centre and the high-tech employment sites at Lakeside and Telford Technology Park.

Making a Town Centre
In order to attract technology companies that will help create a sustainable economy in Telford, the town’s infrastructure has to be able to support the needs of its workforce. Key to this and to securing Telford’s continued prosperity is the transformation of its Town Centre into an 18 hour, seven day a week, vibrant and sustainable heart. By capitalising on its outstanding location and broadening its cultural, leisure, retail and residential appeal, the town centre will attract more people to live and work in and around Telford. It will also help to attract and retain valuable graduates and professionals to the area. Development of the Town Centre will help to secure Telford’s position as a leading regional retail and leisure centre in the West Midlands.

Apollo Real Estate/Hark Group bolstered the future of the Town Centre with their £440 million acquisition of the shopping centre last summer. The developers revealed plans for a mixed use scheme called ‘The Round’, drawn up by Benoy which masterplanned Birmingham’s Bull Ring.

Together with expansion plans for the International Centre and Transforming Telford’s plans for the redevelopment of Southwater, all partners are working hard to move this exciting project forward.

Land of Opportunity

There are two key sites within the WTTC that are earmarked for development, with a focus on encouraging innovative and technology-based businesses to relocate to the area.

One is the 69 hectare site (170 acres) at Lakeside, which brings together employment, residential and education opportunities that will link to facilities at the University of Wolverhampton Telford Campus. Success of the e-Innovation Centre has been phenomenal, and attention is now turning to providing services to businesses once they have completed their inception in the incubator facility, which is currently full to capacity.

The site plans currently provide around 60,000 sq m (645,000 sq ft) of high quality offices and grow-on space for high-tech, high-growth companies. Transforming Telford is working with all partners including land owners Bovale, the University, Telford & Wrekin Council and Advantage West Midlands in the delivery of the wider project.

The other site that will be the focus of significant development is the current Science and Technology Park at Nedgehill. Around 24 hectares (60 acres) is to re-branded as Telford Technology Park and firmly re-establish it as a major opportunity for technology-based businesses.

Moving Forward

Sarah Raper believes the partnership between WTTC and Transforming Telford forms an important part of the future growth and development of Telford and is vital to the success of our shared aims.

She said: “The establishment of sustainable infrastructure to support a skilled workforce and developing new sites that will attract investment from technology companies is also key to the success of the town.

”Commitment to developing and promoting Telford as a key centre for technology and the creation of quality infrastructure is at the heart of the masterplan. There is still so much to be done, but confidence in the cause and commitment to following through our overall aims will benefit the town, the people and the economy.”