Watch: Time-lapse footage of £250m Southwater project in Telford taking shape
It has transformed the face of Telford town centre – and now a fascinating time-lapse has been created to show how Southwater took shape.
The building work has given the town a vibrant eating, leisure and entertainment quarter, set alongside a tranquil urban beach and lake.
It marks the future of the economy and night life of Telford, making it a destination for people from across Shropshire and the West Midlands.
Now, the new time-lapse shows work on the £250 million development through a series of photos as it happened from start to finish.
Andrew Cunningham, from 360Skylens which provides an aerial photography and aerial video service using UAV's and telescopic masts, was approached by Telford & Wrekin Council to document the development.
He said: "The first photo was taken in June 2012 and the last completed photo was taken in April 2013.
"We took the photos every four to six weeks. It documents the transformation. It has been a major improvement to the area."
In 2014, the Southwater One building opened to the public, the first major section of the regeneration of the Southwater area of the town centre to open for business.
Southwater One houses a new library alongside Telford & Wrekin council's customer First Point as well as a Costa Coffee outlet.
As well as Southwater One, the high quality public spaces around it also opened – including the new lake, which features an urban beach, footpaths for lakeside strolls and a games area.
A 600-space multi-storey car park also opened up and the development included a new Premier Inn, restaurants and the Cineworld Imax cinema.
Telford & Wrekin Council bosses said the whole development demonstrated that Telford was "well and truly on the up".
The plans for Telford Shopping Centre's new Southern Quarter were given approval in November 2014.
It marked the first phase of the £200 million transformation of the shopping centre, following hot on the heels of the £250 million Southwater project.
The plans for phase two, the 70,000 sq ft Northern Quarter, have also been given the green light and will create up to seven new stores at the old Asda supermarket facing Red Oak car park. There will be two more stores looking out onto Ash Grey car park.
