The first phase of an ambitious £250 million transformation of Telford town centre is set to go ahead this winter, it was revealed this week.
Council chiefs have secured the final piece in the huge funding jigsaw for the Southwater project, which will see shops, bars, cafes and hundreds of new homes built in the town centre.
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has now agreed to pump £9.5 million into the scheme, it was announced. The cash boost provides the final element in a massive £28 million package to deliver the first phase of works to remodel the site and put in the infrastructure to allow building work to start.
It is expected contracts will be signed by the end of next month. Major engineering works are due to start on site in December.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader, Councillor Andrew Eade, said: “I am delighted that the Homes and Communities Agency has confirmed the last stage of funding for the Southwater project.
He added: “This is a very exciting scheme that will transform Telford town centre into a vibrant social and economic hub and give the borough a centre to be proud of.
“It will mean new jobs, new opportunities and more inward investment and provide a place that people want to work in, live in, visit and enjoy.”
Councillor Eade said there had already been “significant interest” from private investors in the scheme.
The new Southwater will include office space, a new learning and media centre, two new hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and shops, a leisure hub with space for a swimming pool and multi screen cinema.
There will also be places to live, including apartments and town houses, a community medical facility and a new Meeting Point House.
Nicola Marshall, head of housing for the Homes and Communities Agency West Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this project to transform the Southwater area and will continue to work with the council to deliver this exciting vision for the communities in and around Telford town centre.”