Developer reveals supermarket plan

The company behind a £1.2 billion revamp of Telford Town Centre has submitted an outline planning application to build an "iconic" supermarket-led development in the heart of the town.

Hark Apollo claims the development will safeguard the jobs of 2,750 workers employed in the town and bring added vitality to the area. The application has been submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council.

It outlines plans for a sustainable, timber-fronted, gateway building into the town centre which will enhance the area's environmental reputation by cutting unnecessary car journeys between shopping trips.

It has been designed by architects Benoy, the company behind Birmingham's Bullring.

It rivals an approved scheme to sell Telford & Wrekin Council's civic offices in Malinsgate for redevelopment by Asda.

The Hark Apollo scheme includes a new supermarket, a refurbished petrol filling station, car parking and improvements to disabled and pedestrian access to the town centre.

A Hark spokesman said: "This move underlines our commitment to Telford Town Centre. No-one can now be in any doubt that we are serious about this application.

"Our public exhibition showed that shoppers overwhelmingly support plans for a new supermarket led development at the heart of the town centre.

"In responding to the current economic downturn, Telford is now faced with a real choice - a development which would re-ignite the town's retail economy, cementing its status as a significant player in the West Midlands, or one that would deprive the town centre of one of its major economic drivers and a key anchor tenant, leaving the town centre and its 2,750 employees facing risk and uncertainty.

"Unlike the civic offices site application, ours will deliver a sustainable solution in an iconic position for the town. We look forward to Telford & Wrekin Council giving our application equal treatment to its own."