Telford unveils plans to boost inward investment and development

TELFORD & Wrekin Council is attempting to become a “business winning council” to combat the difficult economic climate and make it easier for inward investors.

The council is proposing to launch a business and development charter which sets out a series of pledges to ensure a streamlined, consistent and supportive service for would-be investors.

It is planned that over the coming months, the council will deliver some “quick wins” to establish Telford as a recognised enterprise and growth area and to put across the message that Telford is open for business.

A report to the council’s cabinet on Thursday will focus on starting the change process to help secure more inward investment and to kick start the local economy.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “The current financial climate heightens the requirements for the public sector to assist and facilitate growth and inward investment.”

The cabinet is being asked to approve a range of measures to make the development process swifter and more efficient including more pre-application advice and greater clarity for investors.

A range of financial incentives to attract new businesses to the Telford area is also being proposed by the council.

These could include offering business rate discounts of up to £55,000 a year or deferring business rates to help new start-ups.

A report to the council’s cabinet says that the borough is ideally placed to benefit from the massive Jaguar Land Rover plant at the i54 development near Wolverhampton, which will create 750 jobs directly and a further 2,200 in its supply chain.

The borough also has 167 hectares of development land available with much of this on existing commercial areas such as Hortonwood or the Nedge.