Council to buy former Telford college site to regenerate deprived area

The council has announced plans to buy the former New College, in Wellington, and develop it for businesses and housing. It could also include a campus with special school provision.

Last year the council had been looking at buying the site to use it as a new home for Haughton Special School.

A report to be considered by Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet next week outlines how the College Ward area is included in the 10 per cent of most deprived in the country.

Council leader Shaun Davies, who has taken the decision to recommend the plan to his cabinet, said it would prevent other developers taking control of the site and potentially building something which could further harm the area.

He said: “The former New College site is a large and important site where there is the potential to make a significant contribution through a mixed use development to support the regeneration of College ward.

Significant

“Were the site to be sold by Telford College to another party, there is a risk that a development that does not consider the context of the local area could come forward – ultimately risking a detrimental impact on the local community.

Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for economic development and member for College ward, said: “I really welcome this as it provides us with a significant opportunity to use a key site for a major regeneration project.

“By securing the site we will work to overcome a number of issues raised by local residents.”

The report which will be consider by council cabinet members on Thursday explains how the area is considered to be deprived in relation to employment and education.

It states: "New College sits within College Ward, an area ranked within the 10 per cent most deprived nationally. The ward has particularly high deprivation indices in relation to employment deprivation, education, skills and training. College also includes one of the borough's largest BME populations."

The report adds: "It is proposed that the council continue with the acquisition of the site on the basis of bringing forward a masterplan and subsequent mixed use development that will support the regeneration of the local area.

"This accords with previous interventions made in other priority wards including South Telford and a number of local centres to support regeneration. The process would include consultation with the local community to ensure that the use of the site makes a positive contribution to the local area."