Local area

Telford sits in the beautiful county of Shropshire in the heart of the UK. All business locations in Telford are within ten minutes of the motorway providing direct access to the national road network, as well as train and freight services and links to nearby airports and ports. Two thirds of the UK's population is within four hours travel time and as a result Telford is an attractive area for ambitious business from all over the world.

Designated in 1963 to stimulate economic growth and provide new housing for the West Midlands, the area was expanded in 1968 and renamed Telford, after the famous civil engineer Thomas Telford. The new town area is now the 'Telford' part of the Borough of Telford and Wrekin.

Telford has enjoyed natural growth and in-migration, rising from 75,000 in 1963 to 171,000 today with a younger profile than the regional and national average.

Telford continues to be an important regional growth centre and it is predicted that the population will rise to around 200,000 over the next two decades. This will make Telford larger than cities like Newcastle, York and Oxford are today. This step-change in the growth and development of Telford is going to open up many new and diverse opportunities for individuals and businesses.

Telford has a significant and growing distribution sector and is recognised as a developing regional logistics centre within the West Midlands in accordance with PA9 of the West Midlands Spatial Strategy (2004).

In this context, Telford International Rail Freight Park is central to future development in the region. TIRFP will not only provide existing companies in Telford with an alternative transport choice, but can assist in sustaining existing jobs and creating new jobs by helping to attract new businesses into the region.

The Borough's Local Development Framework stipulates that undeveloped land to the north at Hortonwood as well as future change of use within Hortonwood will become an expansion area for Telford International Railfreight Park. Development will be focussed on logistics related uses and those with synergy to the rail terminal.

For more information on corporate relocation and expansion, contact the inward investment team at One Telford, the areas economic development agency, who offer a free and confidential service that includes:

  • Helping to define your locations, expansion or investment requirements
  • Providing research to support your location decision
  • Arranging personal tours and site visits
  • Arranging introductions to local intermediaries and advisers
  • Providing details about grants and financial assistance that might be available
  • Access to comprehensive information on available commercial sites and properties.

One Telford
Darby House
Lawn Central
Telford
TF3 4JA

Tel: 01952 567564
Email: phillip.challinor@telford.gov.uk
Website: www.onetelford.co.uk/business/