MP welcomes plan for Telford's new shopping centre
An MP has welcomed plans for Telford's new Southern Quarter but has called for more investment elsewhere.
It comes after plans for a £200 million transformation of Telford Shopping Centre were approved.
Telford MP David Wright welcomed the plans to "transform the whole town centre" and declared it "a boost for the area's regional and national profile".
But he said it was important to "continue to invest in local centres" like Oakengates, Dawley and Madeley.
The Southern Quarter development follows hot on the heels of the £250 million Southwater project. New pictures reveal how Telford Shopping Centre's new Southern Quarter will dramatically change the look of the town centre.
The artist's impression shows how the ambitious new scheme, which has been approved by planners and will include restaurants and cafes, is designed to look to shoppers. Bosses revealed this week work could start next spring.
Important
Telford & Wrekin Council planning officers used delegated powers to grant approval. They are for the first phase of the £200 million transformation of the shopping centre and form part of plans to transform the whole of Telford town centre.
Mr Wright added: "This is fantastic news for Telford and it builds on the great redevelopment that has taken place in Southwater.
"It's really important that the town centre succeeds and lifts our regional and national profile as a town alongside this we need to continue to invest in our local centres like Oakengates, Dawley and Madeley.
"We need to have a twin-track approach to support both Telford centre and our long-standing local centres.
"We are getting the balance and we need to make sure that we are investing."
The Southern Quarter development will see five or six restaurants or cafes, totalling 26,500 sq ft, built on the site of the eyesore former Focus store.
Tim Binnington, chairman of Sovereign Land, the company overseeing the work, said: "
We are in discussion with a number of potential occupiers for the units.
"Now that we have planning consent, we can start to formalise these negotiations and we hope to be able to confirm names soon."
