Town Centre
The multi million pound development of the Town Centre is crucial to the future of Telford. It will bring new jobs, investment and help to create a sense of place.
Our visioning document ‘The Statement of Delivery’ for the £250 million redevelopment of Telford Town Centre’s Southwater area, outlines the key development opportunities for Southwater, a 12 hectare (30 acre) site within the existing Southwater area in the Town Centre. It puts forward a vision that would radically regenerate the area by introducing a new 143,000 sq m mixed-use development.
The scheme would bring together new cafes, bars and shops, a 12,500 sq m leisure scheme including replacements for the existing ice rink, bowling and bingo hall, new housing, 25,000 sq m offices with further expansion proposed and a new hotel. Meeting Point House and the Library would be replaced with new, improved community facilities. Together these developments would create and safeguard an estimated 1,750 jobs.
A new high street would be built, with a central public square replacing Southwater Square. This would be enhanced with exciting, atmospheric lighting as public art, to help create a distinctive character for the Town Centre.
The £250m development would be made up of around £30 million public sector funding which would lever in an additional £220 million of private sector investment.
The first phase 30 acre site could include the following:
- Southwater Square, which incorporates a re-designed water feature and public square, close to Telford’s very popular Town Park, forming the focus for high quality developments including a new hotel, cafes, bars and offices, specialist shops and residential apartments to encourage town centre living, something which has not previously existed in Telford
- A Leisure scheme which would be anchored on the theme of ice leisure and include other uses such as bowling and bingo.
- A striking new learning and media centre, which would help raise architectural aspirations throughout the Town Centre. The existing library could be re-housed here, as could other community resources. A new Meeting Point House would be built as an important facility for the local community and voluntary sector.
- A new central High Street and public realm bringing innovative lighting as public art to the town. The scheme would also maximise pedestrian linkages across the Town Centre including the Town Park, shopping centre and railway station.
- The vision also sees the creation of improved links with the hugely successful Telford International Centre and its planned expansion.
- A new 1,200 space multi story car park would be built.
The brief for the appointment of a private sector development partner for the 30 acre site around Southwater Square will be issued through the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) process in 2008. It is anticipated that a preferred developer will be appointed in 2009. Public consultation on the developer proposals will then follow.
Partners
- Advantage West Midlands
- Telford & Wrekin Council
- English Partnerships
- Private Sector
- Transforming Telford
- Telford International Centre
- Apollo Real Estate / Hark Group Ltd
Contact
Alan Bishop – Transforming Telford on 01952 567567.
