Duke and Crown Street building demolition starts in Wellington
Telford & Wrekin Council has underlined its commitment to providing new jobs, homes and business units in Wellington by starting to demolish a building which has sat empty for nearly five years.
Construction of a new building in Duke/Crown Street is scheduled to be completed by Autumn 2026 and is part of the wider redevelopment of Wellington which is expected to create up to 10 new jobs, 13 new residential homes and 2 new commercial/retail units.
The project will see the demolition of the old, dilapidated building, currently located at 2 Walker Street and 15 Duke Street, followed by the construction of a new two-storey building in that space in keeping with the surrounding architecture.
The development, funded by Telford & Wrekin Council and central government, will provide residential accommodation on the upper floors and a new retail space at ground level.
Local contractor Pave Aways is carrying out the works which will include groundworks, underpinning, and the erection of a new steel-framed masonry structure.
Surrounding businesses will remain open as usual throughout the works and Pave Aways are taking every step possible to minimise noise, dust, and disruption while the works take place.
Pedestrian access around the site will remain open at all times, and Pave Aways and Telford & Wrekin Council will ensure safe and clear routes are maintained for the public.
Telford & Wrekin Council is committed to making the borough a better place to live, work, learn and socialise through a series of high-profile investment projects.
A total of £300 million is being invested into a range of new developments at Station Quarter in Telford Town Centre, Wellington and Oakengates which are all part of the Council’s Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme.
The Council has funded half of this total investment but has also worked hard to maximise external funding available from the West Midlands Combined Authority, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the Towns Fund and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to help deliver these projects.
Programmes of work are at various stages of development but are all set to be completed by 2027 and will ensure the borough is well equipped for the next 50 years creating new homes, education facilities, jobs and social spaces, as well as a series of public realm improvements.
Businesses in the surrounding area will all be open as usual throughout the works.
Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, said:
“These works will deliver a new building that complements and supports the surrounding high street and provides a space for new retail opportunities in the heart of Wellington.
“Not only will this enhance the appearance of the high street it will hopefully help to drive new businesses and more footfall to the town.
"Investing in Telford and Wrekin is quite literally laying foundations for the future - creating opportunities to learn new skills, secure great jobs, enjoy top cultural activities and live in an attractive place we can all be extremely proud of.”
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said:
“We’re continuing to develop new homes for our residents and these upper floor apartments are another example of that – creating modern, attracting living spaces in a town centre location.”
This and other construction projects in Wellington support a Community Grant Fund – an initiative which is part of the social value delivered through local contractor Pave Aways.
The fund helps unemployed adults and NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) young people aged 18–25 to build confidence, develop new skills and move closer to sustainable employment.
So far the fund has delivered 530 hours of apprentice training off site, 460 hours of trainee/graduate training on site, 12 weeks of work placements, 46 hours of support to help people into work and 194 hours of work experience for NEETs.
Jamie Evans, Pave Aways Construction Director, said:
“We’re looking forward to getting this project underway, and safety remains our top priority.
“We’re taking every step to ensure surrounding businesses can continue operating as usual, minimising the impact of the works on the high-street.
“Beyond the project, we’re very proud of the positive impact our Community Grant Fund is having locally, helping people gain skills, confidence, and opportunities that will benefit them and the wider community for years to come.”
You can find out more about this and other investment projects across Telford and Wrekin here: Telford & Wrekin Council | Investing in Telford and Wrekin