Tenders are being invited for the first phase of a £200 million expansion of Telford Shopping Centre with work expected to start on site early next year, creating around 1,000 construction jobs.
Developer Sovereign Land is to double the size of the existing one million ft² shopping centre – already one of the UK’s biggest covered retail areas - following granting of planning approval by Telford and Wrekin Council. The scheme will add 400,000 ft² of retail space and 250,000 ft² of restaurants, a cinema and a hotel and is adjacent to a £250 million town centre development that is already under way.
Architect Benoy designed the master plan which splits the development into a Northern Quarter, Central Square, Southern Quarter and the Bus Station area. Work will get under way on the Northern Quarter first of all, with supermarket chain Asda moving into a new store. Development of the site, which already has key retailers Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Primark as tenants, will take five years to complete.
Sovereign Land chairman Tim Binnington said the plans represent a major commercial redevelopment opportunity that will help to transform Telford into a regional retail and leisure destination.
“More than that, they are a vital part of a strategy for creating a new future for one of the UK’s important New Towns,” he added.
“Over the years, the town centre has evolved piecemeal and parts of it are showing their age. We now want to take the town forward to the next stage with a considered, planned regeneration strategy.
“Telford & Wrekin Council is already making great strides – having successfully turned Telford into one of the fastest growing towns in the UK, initiated the £250m Southwater leisure and civic development on a site adjacent to the shopping centre and have exciting plans for residential, school and transport renewal.”
