A £250m plan to transform the area around Telford International Centre into a new convention quarter has officially begun.
Site and venue owner, the Southwater Event Group, has partnered with Telford and Wrekin Council to build a new commercial heart of the Shropshire town. The plans will take 18 months to complete and will see several elements added to the site including an 11-screen cinema, restaurants, bars and new hotel.
Alongside cinema operator Cineworld, several major brands have signaled their support for the regeneration scheme including Bella Italia, Nando’s, Premier Inn, Pizza Express and Wagamama.
“A convention quarter right outside our front door will give our visitors an incredible range of entertainment and dining options,” Southwater Event Group Chief Executive Tom Gray said. “The new Southwater Square will be a wonderful addition to the area and a real boost to the night-time economy.”
Citygrove Developments is tasked with the leisure element while Thomas Vale Construction is building the individual units. Once completed, the new development should deliver a £25m investment in Telford creating 260 jobs.
Construction work is not expected to disrupt events at the International Centre and Gray said he was “ looking forward to watching the day-to-day progress and the amazing transformation this ambitious initiative will bring”.
“Work is being carefully phased to ensure that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum, and our site will be unaffected by any development work, so event organisers can rest assured their events will go on as planned,” he added.
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