£200m scheme to transform Telford town centre green-lighted

TELFORD and Wrekin Council has approved plans for a £200m revamp of Telford Shopping Centre.

The 1m sq ft centre will almost double in size and new shops, cafes and restaurants will be built on the Red Oak car park site.

Proposals by developers Sovereign Land also include the building of a hotel and leisure complex in Central Square.

The plans will form part of a £450m redevelopment of Telford, together with the £250m Southwater scheme, which is being built by Telford and Wrekin Council and developer Citigrove.

Telford and Wrekin council said the development would create 2,000 jobs and building will begin next Spring.

The proposals for the town centre are planned over a five year period and will begin with the redevelopment of the existing Asda store, which will be vacated when the supermarket moves to its new location in spring 2014.

Tim Binnington from Sovereign Land said he hoped the revamped shopping centre would attract shoppers who would normally go to Birmingham or Merry Hill.

Councillor Kuldip Sahota, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “We are really pleased that Sovereign Land have been granted permission for their planned £200m development within and around the existing shopping centre.

“Their vision fits well with how the council wants to see the borough develop as a destination that incorporates a wide range of employment, leisure, retail and housing, bringing a true urban feel to the town centre and complementing the work around Southwater and the Box Road.

“We are just a few months away from opening the first phase of the £250m Southwater development and Sovereign Land’s investment into the shopping centre will complement greatly Southwater and Telford & Wrekin Council’s vision for growth.”