Telford £250m Southwater development opens

The first phase of a £250m regeneration project has opened in Telford.

Southwater One boasts a new library, a coffee shop and Telford and Wrekin Council's main advice centre.

Dubbed Telford's "flagship community building" by the local authority, it also houses a lake and public spaces.

Other parts of the development, including an 11-screen IMAX cinema, bars and 10 restaurants, are due to open over the next two months. A launch party is also planned for the autumn.

The development, first proposed over a decade ago, sits between Telford Town Centre shopping complex and Telford town park.

The town is undergoing a £200m redevelopment of the main shopping centre.

Council business director Dave Sidaway described the opening of Southwater One as "a big milestone for the history of Telford".

"This is transformational for Telford. It's very clear Telford's on the up and we're very proud of that," he said.

He described the Southwater library as "state of the art" - the third new library to open in Telford in three years.