Work gathers pace on new Telford town centre homes

Work is gathering pace to create modern, state-of-the-art housing in the heart of Telford town centre following a £4.7m investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The Station Quarter project will see 189 new homes built with 72 of those classed as affordable. Nuplace, Telford & Wrekin Council's wholly owned housing company is developing 117 of the properties.

Nuplace secured the WMCA's investment to regenerate part of the town centre for people looking for high quality housing with all amenities on their doorstep.

The development provides a mixture of both affordable and private rented homes – the affordable homes are a mixture of 36 rented properties and 36 shared ownership and the Nuplace properties are being developed for private rent.

¬¬Photo: Councillor Richard Overton, centre, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, with representatives from the WMCA, Bowmer & Kirkland, Lovell Partnerships, Genr8 Kajima, Gleeds and Telford Towns Fund Board at the Station Quarter residential site.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “Too many families are living in poor quality housing because we simply aren’t building enough homes. It’s leaving people without the safe, warm places they deserve.

“I’m determined to change that. My focus is on delivering thousands of homes, creating vibrant communities where people can thrive.

“Developments like this one in Telford are a step in the right direction, providing good quality housing that will transform lives and give people a real sense of security and belonging.”

Contractors Bowmer & Kirkland are building the one and two bedroom apartments for Nuplace and Lovell Partnerships is constructing a mix of one, two and three bed town houses and low rise apartments.

Nuplace’s contemporary fully-furnished apartments have been designed specifically with various eco-friendly features to contribute towards the council’s commitment to tackle climate change and help tenants to reduce their fuel bills.

The apartment building will benefit from ground floor amenity space spilling out onto a terrace, providing residents with an opportunity for work from home hot desking and socialising.

Collectively the £45.7 million scheme will deliver town centre living at scale within Telford for the first time and create a new community at the heart of the town.

The residential project is just one part of the Station Quarter project which has already delivered The Quad - a digital skills hub now open for students.

The Quad is a unique collaboration between the Council, Harper Adams University, Telford College and other partners which aims to retain local talent, be the catalyst for creating careers in applied sciences and the digital sector and is expected to host more than 300 students a year. 

Plans have also been approved to renovate the former Addenbrooke House Council offices in Station Quarter to create a new sixth form for Telford College while extensive highway improvements to improve connectivity from Telford rail station to Telford Town centre are also well underway which will support the residential developments.

Cllr Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, said: “We’re excited that work has started on these new homes in Telford Town Centre as part of the wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme and I’m delighted that this key piece of work is being delivered as part of our ’20 pledges in 20 weeks’ campaign.

“We want to create vibrant residential spaces which can become homes for life for residents and make Telford a very attractive place to live and work. It’s all part of our vision to create a better borough.”

Station Quarter is all part of a wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme which will transform other areas of the borough including Oakengates and Wellington.

The regeneration programme will bring new high quality, secure and affordable homes to Telford and Wrekin, providing ‘homes for life’ for residents across the borough.