Shortlist announced for Telford’s Landmark Urban Extension
01/02/05
English Partnerships has announced its shortlist for a development partner for the sustainable urban extension planned for Lawley in Telford, Shropshire. Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd, Cofton Ltd, Redrow, Wilson Bowden, Lovell and a consortium of George Wimpy, Persimmon and Barratts have all been shortlisted to go through to the next stage.
Developers were scored on several criteria, including track record in residential and long term strategic development, experience of environmental sustainability, innovation in construction and high–quality urban design. Stage two, which will take four months to complete, involves evaluation of sample designs from the short listed developers against high environmental standards and urban design codings and a financial bid from each company. The successful candidate will then be appointed in May 2005 and invited to join with Homes and Communities Agency and the Borough of Telford & Wrekin to deliver around 3300 new homes and a range of office, retail, leisure and community facilities.
Peter Murray, Homes and Communities Agency, Area Director West Midlands commented, "The response the team have had to the Lawley tender has been fantastic, proving there are developers who have both the vision and ability to deliver high quality, sustainable development. We are looking forward to working with the appointed developer to deliver a scheme which provides high quality housing within a carefully planned development which has been guided by the community from the beginning."
The 70ha site at Lawley makes best use of a brownfield site, 65% of which was formerly used for opencast and shaft coal mining providing.
The plans for new housing will provide 20% of the town’s housing requirement over the next 10 years helping to meet housing shortfalls in the West Midlands.