The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) and Telford & Wrekin Council have now signed a contract for funding for Southwater which will transform the area into a major regional leisure and business attraction.
Public sector partners now have a £29 million public sector war-chest to kickstart the wider Southwater regeneration which will provide a living heart to this part of the town.
The Southwater development is a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council, the Southwater Event Group and the Homes and Communities Agency.
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As well as enabling work, this initial phase will deliver high quality public spaces including a new Southwater Square and Main Street and deliver new community facilities including a Learning & Media Centre.
The HCA has identified the Southwater scheme, which includes 330 new homes within the Southwater area, as one of its key priorities in driving forward the building of new homes in the town for the first time, making this a living centre
The new Southwater will also include office space, two new hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and shops, a leisure hub with a space for a leisure pool and multi screen cinema, creating a vibrant night time economy around a pedestrianised Main Street.
Earlier this month works began with contractors clearing the site of trees in preparation for major earthworks which will start before Christmas and will prepare the site for buildings.
Council leader Andrew Eade said: "I am delighted that the HCA now put their funding into the scheme. The vital enabling works are now moving forward and in just a few weeks, people will see some very visible changes and major activity on the site.
"Regenerating this area is something that has been talked about for many years, to the point where some doubted it would ever happen. Now, thanks to the partnership we have together built, it is."
(CD/GK)
