History
The shopping centre was opened in 1973 and longest standing retailers in the shopping centre are Boots and F. Hinds jewellers. It was expanded in 1981 to include extra shopping areas – this expansion was officially opened by HM The Queen in late October 1981. The phase 1 flagship and largest store during the mid to late seventies was the Carrefour supermarket, now an Asda.
The centre only really came under larger development when it was purchased by the Universities Superannuation Scheme group in 1990. Thenceforth, a refurbishment program was undertaken, including the addition of large roof windows, which admitted more light into the centre. USS also created the Sherwood Square area and added the popular Frog Clock.
By 2001 the centre had 160 stores. By 2006, the centre had approximately 180. This growth can be attributed to the addition of an area known as the 'New Row Mall', which opened in September 2004. This 14,000sqm extension to the west end of the centre added the 7,400sqm anchor store Beatties, which was later taken over by House of Fraser in August 2007. Since Beatties opened on 5 September 2003, car park use has increased on average by between 10 and 12%. Other notable stores were added to New Row Mall at this time, including Zara, Costa Coffee and River Island.
Current anchors of the centre include the new House of Fraser, large Debenhams, recently renovated Marks and Spencer and British Home Stores. Some sources also refer to Asda as an anchor tenant. Other notable stores include Boots, JJB, H&M, New Look and Next.
Sherwood Square in Telford Shopping Centre is host to the "Telford Time Machine", a large animated feature clock spanning most of the width of the square. This square is rarely seen empty, and often plays host to small exhibitions, mini-markets, Santa's Grotto, a children's plastic "ice rink" and a variety of other events.
The Merry Hill Shopping Centre in the West Midlands, developed on an enterprise zone between Dudley and Brierley Hill in the 1980s, was inspired by the Telford Shopping Centre also the similar centre at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire that was also built in the 1970s.
In 2005 the UCI Cinema was refurbished and rebranded as Odeon. This cinema is located to the west of the centre, across the underpass connecting House of Fraser to the vehicle parking areas.
In June 2007 USS sold the shopping centre to Hark Group and Apollo Real Estate (collectively Hark & Apollo) for £442 million.
In 2007 a £1billion regeneration plan for the town centre was announced, which will include the pedestrianisation of the road surrounding the shopping centre, and the creation of new cafés, bars and shops which will lead to 1,750 new jobs.
In 2006, the centre won the five-star 'Loo of the Year' award, due to the cleanliness and access to its toilet facilities.
Read more about this topic: Telford Town Centre
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