Work to transform Telford town centre has passed an important milestone.

Dignitaries visited Telford’s International Centre for a topping-out ceremony, marking rapid progress on the building as part of the £250 million Southwater Development.

While topping-out ceremonies usually reflect the end point of work on a building’s roof, the announcement at Telford International Centre yesterday marked the beginning of work on the roof.

International Centre chief executive Tom Gray said: “We have been planning this since 2002 but we knew doing it in isolation would be absolutely pointless as we are not in a position to create the night-time economy our delegates need.

“We can provide the event facilities but we can’t provide the normal town centre bars, restaurants and activities.”

The new extension to the conference centre will make it the fifth biggest facility of its type in the country, and will add the new 1,500-capacity Ludlow suite to the existing building.

Mr Gray, who is currently on crutches after injuring his achilles playing tennis, added that the entire development would help bring millions of pounds into Telford’s economy.

He said: “I have heard somebody describe Telford as an old new town, which isn’t a very nice description, so to get a £250million investment in the town centre is great news.”

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade also announced that plans for a multi-screen cinema to be incorporated into the Southwater Development would go to market soon after various operators expressed an interest in opening on the development.

Mr Eade said the new facility would be bigger than the existing cinema, and would make a “national statement” about Telford’s ambitions.

He added: “I am extremely excited by what is going on here.

“We have made this happen, and we made it happen together,” said Mr Eade.

“It is a result of strong partnership and will show the way forward for many other places up and down the country.”

Various national chains have already expressed an interest in being part of the development, which is hoped to bring another 200,000 people per year to Telford, and will encourage those who visit to spend money in the town.