Telford Land Deal: Reflecting on 10 years

Telford & Wrekin Council is celebrating the achievements of the Telford Land Deal, following a new report which set out ten years of transformative impact for the borough.

Established in 2015, the Land Deal is a unique partnership between the Council and Homes England that has enabled the reinvestment of land receipts back into Telford.

Over the last decade, this model has delivered new homes, high‑quality employment space, hundreds of skilled jobs, enhanced infrastructure and strengthened local supply chains supporting the Council’s wider strategy to Protect, Care and Invest in creating a better Borough.

During this period, the Land Deal has generated £60.3 million in gross land sales and supported the creation of 2,493 jobs, many within engineering, manufacturing and emerging growth sectors.

It has enabled the development of 1,583 new homes across the Borough, including hundreds of affordable and specialist homes and more than 209,000 square metres of employment floor space has been delivered, helping both local firms and major national and international investors to expand and succeed in Telford.

The partnership’s innovative approach including upfront site preparation, attracting inward investment, securing planning consents and resolving development constraints has unlocked brownfield and underused land across the Borough.

Sites at Hortonwood, T54, Ni.PARK, Halesfield and across north and east Telford have benefited from this work, bringing forward modern industrial units, high‑tech premises, and thriving business clusters. The Telford Land Deal has also delivered strong outcomes for green infrastructure, with the Council taking ownership of non‑developable land to enhance biodiversity, grow the Green Network, and support initiatives such as the Great Crested Newt District Licensing Scheme.

Alongside commercial and housing achievements, the partnership has enabled social and community benefits. The expansion of Park Wrekin Gymnastics Club made possible through redevelopment of the former Charlton School site is a clear example, with membership growing from 250 to 1,200 since relocation and supporting gymnasts performing at international levels.

Despite wider national challenges over the decade, including Brexit and the Covid‑19 pandemic, the Land Deal has consistently met or exceeded its targets, the council says. The programme has remained agile, adapting to market changes and keeping development on track, while reinvesting profit share locally to bring forward further sites and safeguard employment opportunities.