New vision for Telford Shopping Centre
Major plans that would see part of Telford Shopping Centre completely rebuilt have taken took a major step forward.
The centre's owners have submitted an application to Telford & Wrekin Council for permission to knock down and rebuild the former Asda store.
It will be replaced with a striking, circular "drum" building and seven shops and restaurants.
Plans for a new supermarket and underground car park as part of the overall redevelopment of the centre have not been included on the masterplan, but those behind the project have not ruled out it being built.
Asda moved out to a new building on the site of Telford & Wrekin Council's former offices last year, leaving the empty building to greet visitors to the town centre from Telford Central station empty.
It will be replaced by 70,000 sq ft of retail space, with five units facing on to Red Oak car park, and two more looking out onto Ash Grey car park beside the existing entrance to Primark and BHS.
As well as the new shops, with a "3D-style facade", the development will include a 27ft-tall circular metallic building, which will help disguise a service yard at the back of the development.
Like the Southern Quarter, which was approved last year, it will also welcome visitors with a tall new tower.
The proposals also include a new pedestrian route around the building, including areas of public art, wayfinding, signage, seating and plants.
The new building has been designed by London architects Benoy, which has also been responsible for a number of major projects in the Middle East, including the extraordinary Ferrari World theme park in Abu Dhabi, as well as the Bullring and Brindley Place in Birmingham.
The move to rebuild the so-called Northern Quarter marks a landmark moment in the £200 million redevelopment.
Meanwhile, the centre's management company Sovereign Land has also confirmed that work on the Southern Quarter will begin later this summer.
Tim Binnington, chairman at Sovereign Land, which is managing the redevelopment for the shopping centre on behalf of the owners, said that the Northern Quarter would help attract new retailers to the town.
"The new Northern Quarter could transform this part of the town centre, creating a more attractive shopping environment and complementing our café and restaurant development at the Southern Quarter," he said.
"Modern retailers are looking for larger stores which this development will provide, enabling us to attract new brands and the latest concepts to Telford."
It is not yet known how long the application will take to pass through planning, but the Southern Quarter application was passed just over two months after being submitted, in November last year. Sovereign Land said the Southern Quarter will welcome a number of new restaurants and cafes to the town, and will stand on the side of the centre which leads out onto the new Southwater development.
The proposals are part of a five-year masterplan for Telford Shopping Centre, which was given the green light by Telford & Wrekin Council at the end of 2013.
It will increase the floorspace of the 1 million sq ft centre by up to 80 per cent.
The planning application will be soon be available to view at www.telford.gov.uk/planningapplications where members of the public are able to submit feedback on the proposals.
