Telford civic offices demolished to make way for Asda
[gallery] Part of Telford's former council headquarters has been bulldozed as part of major regeneration plans for the town centre.
Demolition work is being carried out on the former Telford & Wrekin Council civic offices to make way for an Asda superstore. And Walker House, which was once home to the council's administrative offices, has already been consigned to history.
The building, which backs on to Malinslee House, was the first to be demolished after workmen moved on to the site yesterday. It is expected it will take six weeks to demolish all of the buildings and clear the site.
Malinslee House housed the council's civic offices since the mid 1970s but after 40 years 800 employees left the building last December, with many moving to Addenbrooke House in Ironmasters Way and others relocating to offices at the new Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre and to Granville House in Donnington.
Preparatory work, including the removal of windows, was completed on the building site as the first phase of the major redevelopment of the site.
The Asda superstore will be built over two levels and the 44,000 sq ft superstore will be built on stilts above a 500-space car park.
Site bosses have said the superstore, which will also includes a petrol station, will be ready to open March 2014 in time for when Asda's lease is up on its town centre site.
Oliver Jones, for Asda, said: "The real purpose behind all this is to improve customer experience. There will be a new and improved car park along with a much better in- store experience with new lines and wider aisles. We hope that people will be particularly interested in our improved George clothing range."
The new store may also create jobs. Mr Jones added: "We will know about three months before opening if we intend to make any more roles available once colleagues have transferred across to the new store. It's definitely possible."
Russell Griffin, spokesman for Telford &Wrekin Council, said: "Demolition is progressing smoothly and swiftly. The landmark building, although not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, housed many employees over the years who will be sad to see it go but will be looking forward to the future of the site."
Frank Nolan, project manager working on the site, said 97 per cent of the materials removed from the site will be reused in the new building.
