Insider Media Limited

The flagship £250m development to kick-start the regeneration of Telford town centre has received another boost as the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has committed £9.5m to the project.

The HCA, along with Telford and Wrekin Council, has now signed a contract for funding for the Southwater area of the town centre, which it hopes will transform the area into “a major regional leisure and business attraction”.

This £29m pot will be used to fund preparation work on the site to create plots ready for development and upgrade services including gas, water and electricity. Telford & Wrekin Council is also committing £15.5m to the scheme.

As well as enabling work, this first phase of development will deliver a new Southwater Square and Main Street, and deliver new community facilities including a learning and media centre.

The new Southwater area will also include office space, two new hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and shops and a leisure hub with a space for a swimming pool and multi screen cinema.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade said: “I am delighted that the HCA now put their funding into the scheme. The vital enabling works are now moving forward and in just a few weeks, people will see some very visible changes and major activity on the site.

“Regenerating this area is something that has been talked about for many years, to the point where some doubted it would ever happen. Now, thanks to the partnership we have together built, it is.”