Land sales secure cash and jobs for Telford & Wrekin
More business land has been sold in the last 12 months than in the previous 10 years in Telford , council bosses have revealed.
Telford & Wrekin Council said it was just one of statistics showing the successes of their project to attract new investment in the town to kick-start the local economy.
The sale of commercial land has been made possible by the council leading on the marketing and sale of government-owned employment land and the upturn in market conditions.
During the council's first 12 months acting as agents for the Homes and Communities Agency, transactions were agreed on 22 hectares of land. The deals secured £16 million private investment, £3.7 million receipts for the Treasury and created 300 new jobs.
The council said 2013/14 saw the highest number of new homes - 873 - built in the borough for 10 years with more than 1,000 expected to be built in 2014/15.
Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for finance and enterprise, said: "These statistics outstrip the council's own estimates for the level of business and housing growth and also will make a significant contribution to protecting services from cuts.
"It all serves to underline both investors and consumer confidence that Telford & Wrekin is a place that is bucking the national trend and is actually starting to prosper."
The council signed into a stewardship agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency on September 1 2012 for 221 hectares of commercial and employment land in the borough, including 31.6 hectares at Telford 54
The authority's regeneration and investment team now takes responsibility for handling and managing enquiries for these sites.
Of the 221 hectares covered by the stewardship agreement, 155 hectares are now sold, under offer and subject to a live enquiry.
