The boss of Telford International Centre today spoke for the first time about why he has switched allegiance in the “store wars” battle over the future of the town centre.

Tom Gray, chief executive of the Southwater Event Group, said he had no argument with his former partner Hark Apollo.

However he said he wanted to get cracking on an expansion of Telford’s ability to stage major national conferences and exhibitions – and joining forces with Telford & Wrekin Council was the way to do that.

Mr Gray was talking at the launch of a public exhibition of proposed £250 million plans by the council and international centre for Southwater Square.

Back in 2007, he shared a platform with Hark Apollo, Anglo-American owners of Telford Shopping Centre, to launch a £1.2 billion redevelopment called The Round.

But Hark has since got into a row with the council after Asda – one of its flagship stores – decided to move across the road and buy the ageing civic offices site for a new supermarket.

And now Telford International Centre has ditched its former business partner to join the council in the Southwater scheme, which will include an international hotel and expanded conference facilities in a new cultural quarter.

Mr Gray said: “I don’t think we have jumped ship.

“This is all about developing the town centre and I don’t think we are doing anything to jeopardise what Hark Apollo is doing.

“We are still in discussions with them for mutual benefit.

“But the council’s Southwater development is on a timescale in line with our business plans.”