Submitted artists' impressions of new Southwater development.

Telford & Wrekin Council chiefs today ended eight months of speculation by revealing where their prestigious new civic headquarters are to be built – Southwater.

There had been calls for the new offices to be sited in Dawley or Wellington but members of the ruling cabinet have plumped for the Telford town centre site.

Supermarket giant Asda has agreed to buy the authority’s existing Malinslee House head office on the outskirts of the town centre and move there from its current location in Telford Shopping Centre.

The council, which announced it was selling Malinslee House last August, expects its new headquarters to be ready by 2013 and Asda bosses today said their new superstore would be open by 2014.

The new council headquarters form part of a planned £250 million redevelopment of the Southwater area.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Andrew Eade said the building would help the regeneration of the town centre gather momentum, adding: “Southwater is undoubtedly the best location.”

The new civic centre will form just part of an ambitious, £250 million project aimed at breathing new life into the heart of Telford, with the creation of bars, restaurants, a new hotel, an extended International Centre, new offices and meeting facilities and a new library.

Councillor Eade also “absolutely refuted” claims by his Labour opposite number Councillor Keith Austin that the council would have to borrow £58 million to fund the ambitious town centre revamp.

Council spokesman Russell Griffin said the aim of the massive Southwater redevelopment would be to create a centre of regional and national importance.