Shops to be demolished in final stage of Sutton Hill regeneration

Sutton Hill resident Terry Blanchflower – who recently made headlines for assisting with the rescue of a local resident from a house fire – will be joined by Telford MP David Wright and Sutton Hill ward members Councillors Derek White and Alan Mackenzie at the event.

The council announced the completion of a £7m regeneration scheme in Sutton Hill Local Centre in the summer of last year.

The scheme was jointly funded by the council and Homes and Communities Agency and saw the construction of two new shops with four flats above and new road links with improved parking arrangements.

It also included the acquisition and demolition of 32 properties on the estate, which saw the people who lived in the affected houses rehomed to new properties.

The scheme was carried out after a residents’ survey in 2008 identified the need for an improved local centre with better shops as their top priority.

The new Local Centre – built by contractor McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd – was formally opened in October 2011.

Gas services to the old shop units in the Local Centre have been disconnected which means the units can now be demolished, making way for some new housing to be built in the future.

The demolition works are being carried out by DSM Demolition Ltd, who are looking forward to their new “workers” lending a hand as demolition of the shops begins on Friday.

Councillor Charles Smith, cabinet member for Housing, Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “This has been an extensive scheme to breathe new life into the local centre in Sutton Hill and the demolition of the remaining shop units marks the final phase.

“The council has delivered a new local centre with better facilities which is much easier to get to and from and features much higher quality housing.”

As part of the event, Mr Blanchflower will be presented with a certificate in recognition of his bravery by Councillor Kevin Guy, mayor of the Borough of Telford and Wrekin.