The £1 billion transformation of Telford town centre to create a shopping and leisure complex known as The Round is set to gather momentum in the coming year.

It is just over 12 months since the town centre masterplan was first unveiled and it has now been submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council for comment. The developers said residents would be able to see major changes taking shape at the start of 2009.

Ben Sherreard, spokesman for developers the Hark Group, said: “The first major difference will be the bigger Primark which can already be seen taking shape.

“This expansion will triple the size of the existing store. It is expected that the new Primark will be ready to open to the public in Spring 2009. The recently approved brand new health clinic in Central Square will also open during 2009.

“The clinic will be run by the primary care trust and will serve residents of Telford. This represents a vital community facility and demonstrates that the development will provide a wide mix of uses.

“As well as the clinic and the new, bigger Primark, 2009 will see the emergence of new food and leisure options in the town centre.

“The old Athena nightclub will be reopening and will include a new Chinese-Cantonese restaurant and a new bar. There will also be a new food hub where Kielder Square meets The Boarder.

“The new food hub will feature leading names such as Gregg’s the bakers, Ditch and Smoothie Operator.”

On top of these changes, Hark hopes further planning applications will be submitted to the council to bring forward additional elements of the masterplan.

These applications will form the basis of the development that will change the look of the town centre over the next decade.

Hark director Rob Cosse said: “After a great deal of hard work visual changes will now begin to take place in the town centre. We keep moving forward with cautious optimism in troubled economic times. No-one is recession proof but at this moment we are determined to move ahead for the long term.”

He added; “This year has been about showing you what we want to do. Next year is about beginning to do it.”

By Simon Hardy