Plans announced for new Sutton Hill community hub

Proposals for a new purpose-built community hub in Sutton Hill have been announced. The project is being developed by Telford & Wrekin Council in partnership with Madeley Town Council.

It is proposed that the two-storey, one-stop shop building, expected to be completed by 2028, will be constructed on the site of the existing Hub on the Hill at 103-106 Southgate which is a community centre run by local people for local people.

The Hub on the Hill is in need of significant repairs so it is more cost effective to build a new facility rather than refurbishing the existing one.

Initial ideas for the ground floor of the new hub include a central atrium area for events, a cafe, a larger hall enabling more sports and leisure activities, a community library and a youth and education room.

Local residents will have an opportunity to provide their views before plans are finalised.

The Council is exploring the option for the first floor of the new Sutton Hill facility to include a neighbourhood health hub which could be used for a range of things, including health checks, mobile screening, vaccinations, and outpatient appointments, as well as a potentially meeting rooms for local partners and groups to use. 

It is also proposed that the new hub will include improved outside space, with the possibility of an outdoor gym and a community garden.

The building at the rear of the existing Hub on the Hill, which is now empty and very unsightly, would also be demolished as part of the redevelopment proposals. 

Telford & Wrekin Council, local ward members and partners are committed to working together to ensure that a new centre becomes a ‘one-stop shop’ hub for activities accessible to the local neighbourhoods.

Investment in a new hub will create a new focal point for Sutton Hill, leading to wider plans for the regeneration of local estates and also enable Madeley Town Council to rethink how the space is used to maximise footfall and income generation.

Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, said:

“We are committed to sustaining a community centre in Sutton Hill.

“The current Hub on the Hill is a valued facility locally that already hosts a range of community and partner services and activities and would leave a huge gap if it closed.

“So now is the time to redevelop this facility to create a new focal point for Sutton Hill, providing more services and facilities to help local people improve their health, gain qualifications and get a job, and maximise their household incomes.

“The new hub is expected to open in 2028, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Telford becoming a new town.

“This proposal is all part of our commitment to make Sutton Hill and Telford and Wrekin a better place to live, learn, work and socialise. 

“We will be jointly funding the project with Madeley Town Council, supported by the additional Pride in Place funding that the Council has committed to.”

Councillor Helena Morgan, Chair of Madeley Town Council, said:

“It is such an exciting time for the residents of Sutton Hill as well as the surrounding areas. The space will be transformed into a space that will be a central point of support in so many areas.

“It will really bring health, wellbeing and so much more to our doorstep. The hub on the hill is already an important part of the area so to be able to bring a modernised facility to life will be a huge investment.

“We want to show our residents that we are investing in them, their community and their future.”

Councillor Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health and Ward Member for Madeley & Sutton Hill, said:

“Myself, along with Madeley & Sutton Hill ward members Janice Jones and Derek White, welcome news of this proposed new facility which will be a huge boost for everyone in Sutton Hill.

“The current hub on the hill has been a focal point of the community for decades and is a place where local people can meet, socialise and take part in essential community activities on their doorstep.

“Creating a new modern, facility will not only safeguard the hub’s future for generations to come, it will also enable additional facilities to be offered so these are really exciting times.”

The work in Sutton Hill forms part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s wider commitment to making access to services and support easier and closer to home and complements longer‑term regeneration taking place across Sutton Hill, Brookside and Woodside, including the Government‑funded Pride in Place programme.

While Pride in Place focuses on longer‑term regeneration and giving residents a greater say in shaping their neighbourhoods, the Council’s own investment is supporting immediate, visible improvements to streets and shared spaces in these communities.

Woodside was selected by Government as one of the first areas in the country to take part in the programme, with Telford & Wrekin Council providing additional funding to expand the investment to Brookside and Sutton Hill.

Pride in Place funding was secured through joint work between Telford & Wrekin Council, Telford MP Shaun Davies and the community.