Developers show off plans for Telford shopping centre

Developers have today taken the wraps off their proposed £27 million shopping complex in Telford claiming it will transform the town and lure in thousands more shoppers.

Hark Apollo, which owns the shopping centre, said the glass-fronted development would create up to 600 permanent jobs, more than 150 construction jobs and rejuvenate the centre pulling in extra visitors.

Spokesman for Hark Jon McLeod said the centre's owners were "just waiting for the green light" from Telford & Wrekin Council's plans board tomorrow.

If passed, the project will see Telford town centre overhauled with a 7,950 square metre supermarket and 2,810 square metres of smaller shops, banks, restaurants, pubs, bars and offices on the site currently used by Asda and the Red Oak car park.

Mr McLeod said: "Our application is now ready for approval. It has taken nine months to get to the plans board and it will bring £27 million of investment that Telford could do with right now.

"It will create 600 more permanent jobs while keeping the 2,750 jobs already in the town centre. It will also create 160 short- term construction jobs.

"We can see that the council can, at the flick of a switch, bring in £27 million in investment, which is very good news for Telford at the moment.

"We are going through some brutal public spending cuts and the council can help that by bringing in this investment which we want to spend.

"Creating these jobs is absolutely what Hark is all about - long term investment. This development is something that is desperately needed and the officers' report to the plans was extremely supportive."

Despite some shops closing in the town centre, Mr McLeod said the plans would pull in more trade to Telford.

By Jason Lavan