Detailed Southwater plans go on show at consultation event
The leader of Telford & Wrekin Council Kuldip Sahota, met with representatives from Citygrove at the consultation event in Telford Town Centre Library on Friday to register his support for the major mixed use leisure development coming to Southwater.
Detailed plans and images of the proposed 11 screen Cineworld cinema, hotel, bars, restaurants and a multi storey car park were revealed at the exhibition ahead of the Council and Citygrove's submission of a full planning application in December.
This £20 million investment will be the catalyst for the whole Southwater scheme and will secure investment by many other major and national leisure chains; as well as generating 260 new jobs.
The proposals are fully supported by the Central Telford Area Action Plan which highlighted Southwater as being the premier location for leisure development, located at a strategic point between The International Centre, Telford Shopping Centre and the Town Park.
Outline planning consent for a multiscreen cinema was secured in June 2010 as part of wider plans to regenerate Southwater and create a real heart to the town. The planning application to be submitted in December is the next step in securing a first class leisure facility for the town.
Citygrove Chairman Toby Baines said "We are really excited about working with the Council to help make their plans for Southwater become a reality.
"Having seen the masterplan for Southwater and worked with officers from the Council over the last few months we understand there is total commitment to delivering high quality developments and public spaces which can transform the image of Telford.
"This will be the sixth cinema we have developed with Cineworld who have been working closely with us in developing the planning application for the Telford cinema."
Cineworld was formed in 1995 and in January 2011 it became the number one cinema chain in the UK. The company currently operates 78 cinemas in the UK with an active expansion programme to acquire more cinemas.
The proposed leisure development will complement the established offer in Southwater which includes bowling, an ice rink which is seeing an additional £4m investment, bingo and the Town Park which is Telford's premier outdoor space and shortly home to a new visitor centre. Plans to create high quality public spaces in including Southwater Square and a new and improved Southwater lake will create an attractive backdrop to these leisure uses.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: "We are 100 per cent committed to promoting leisure development at Southwater and having such a well known name as Cineworld signing up to get the development well and truly off the ground is just fantastic.
"At Cabinet in July, we approved a revised phase one programme of works for Southwater which included a cinema and hotel development. We recognised then the importance of the cinema in generating a vibrant evening economy which Telford town centre has lacked for so long. The forthcoming planning application means we are one step closer to making this a reality.
"I am delighted that we are progressing our plans in conjunction with Citygrove and look forward to making some further announcements on other operators very soon.
"As is always the case I welcome any new inward investment, wherever this come from."
The Southwater development is a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council, the Southwater Event Group and the Homes and Communities Agency.
Southwater Event Group has also completed a major extension of their venue - The International Centre - to create additional event space which will attract even more business visitors to the area.
