Cineworld to create 11 screen cinema in Telford's Southwater Square
Cineworld is to develop an 11 screen multiplex cinema fronting onto the new Southwater Square in Telford after reaching a deal with Telford & Wrekin Council and developer Citygrove Securities PLC.
This is the first in what is expected to be a series of announcements of major leisure operators taking up sites in the new £250m development of the Southwater area of the town centre.
Cineworld Chief Executive Steve Wiener said: "We're very pleased to be part of the new Southwater leisure scheme in Telford.
"The development will bring a variety of entertainment options to the local community including a mixture of restaurants and, of course, a Cineworld multiplex which will feature state of the art digital and 3D screens.
"We look forward to bringing cinema goers and the residents of Telford and Wrekin the widest range of films, at a new modern all digital facility."
Earlier this summer, Telford & Wrekin Council appointed Citygrove as preferred developer for the planned mixed use leisure scheme in Southwater.
Citygrove's proposed development which will face onto Southwater Square includes an 11 screen cinema, an 80 bedroom hotel and seven bars and restaurants and will be key to kick-starting the vibrant entertainment offer that is central to the vision for Southwater.
Now Telford & Wrekin Council and Citygrove say discussions are also at an advanced stage with a well known hotel group and several well known restaurant chains.
Citygrove's development represents a £17m investment in Southwater and will create approximately 170 full and part time jobs.
Telford & Wrekin Council and Citygrove will be submitting a joint planning application for the cinema, hotel, bars, restaurants and a 600 space multi storey car park towards the end of the year. Construction is expected to start in summer 2012.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: "This news is the beginning of a very exciting new phase for the whole Southwater project.
"After drawing up a revised plan to make better use of the available land, we are now looking forward to being able to announce a number of major names as operators of different parts of the development.
"Today's announcement of Cineworld is the first of these and I am delighted that we have one of the largest cinema operators in the UK on board."
