Southwater development progresses with visitor centre demolition
Progress is continuing with Telford’s £250m Southwater development with work due to start this summer on the new town park visitor centre following the demolition of the old one.
Spout Farm House has been demolished in the past couple of weeks to make way for the new Southwater Lake which forms part of a wider scheme to deliver high quality public spaces throughout the Southwater area, setting the scene for the major regeneration of the town centre.
Work on a new visitor centre for the Town Park, which will be sited near the old chapel, will start later this summer, in July.
It should be completed by the end of the year. The new visitor centre has been designed to be a first class facility which will enhance the park experience, being built to very high environmental standards while encouraging the use of the park as an educational resource for all ages.
The Southwater development is a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council and the Homes and Communities Agency, in conjunction with private sector partners including Southwater Event Group and Hark.
It will include retail, residential and leisure units as well as a restaurant, bars and office space.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “We are committed to the completion of the Southwater development and are looking at the best way of delivering a vibrant town centre for the borough with our private sector partners including Southwater Event Group and Hark Apollo.
“The demolition of Spout Farm House is just the latest stage in the clearance works at the site. The regeneration will also include significant investment in Telford Town Park which will include a purpose built visitor centre that is situated in a location more central to the park itself.
“The whole regeneration of the town centre is a very exciting project for Telford and I look forward to working closely with the Southwater Event Group and the Homes and Communities Agency to deliver the scheme in the years to come.”
Tom Gray, chief executive of Southwater Event Group, said: “We look forward to continuing our development partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council to bring a much needed heart to the town centre.
“We welcome these plans for a new visitor centre as this kick starts the wider regeneration which will see bars, restaurants and leisure attractions in this key area of the town.”
