Recognised as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and established as a new town in the 1960s, Telford combines the best of old and new, giving residents a high quality of life and attracting over 3.1 million visitors per year.

Telford and Wrekin: a place to live well, work smart, visit often and study for the future.

A place where innovation meets heritage, where vibrant new communities grow against the backdrop of world-shaping history. We’re one of the fastest-growing, greenest, and most connected boroughs in the Midlands and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

From bustling market towns to thriving business parks, peaceful rural villages to modern urban centres, Telford and Wrekin is a place where more and more people are choosing to live, work, visit and study.

A Borough of contrast and character

Whether you’re in Ironbridge, Wellington, Newport, Madeley, Dawley or Oakengates, or exploring one of our many smaller villages and parishes, every part of Telford and Wrekin has its own unique story.

  • More than 191,000 residents, and one of the fastest-growing populations in the West Midlands (Source: Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2024).
  • Projected 8,800 new homes to be built over the next five years, with vibrant new communities across the Borough (Source: Telford and Wrekin Local Plan).
  • Among the UK’s top places to raise a family, thanks to schools, green space, and quality of life.

A place to work and invest

Telford sits at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing corridor – a centre of excellence for engineering, innovation and digital skills.

  • Over 5,000 businesses, including global employers such as Ricoh, Magna, Epson and AGA Rangemaster.
  • Major business parks including T54, Stafford Park, Hortonwood West, Ni.PARK and Hadley Castle.
  • Excellent transport links with direct trains to Birmingham and London, fast access to the M54 and a new, nationally approved, M54-M6 link road on the way soon.

As a business supporting Council, we champion growth at every stage from start-up to scale-up with dedicated teams, including one of the UK’s fastest planning departments, committed to making it easy to do business in Telford and Wrekin.

A destination to discover

Telford and Wrekin combines heritage with modern experiences that attracts 4.5 million visitors per year.

  • The Ironbridge Gorge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site linked to the start of the Industrial Revolution.
  • Telford Town Park – a Green Flag status and award-winning, family-friendly green space with over 150 hectares of nature trails, bike hire, sensory gardens, play areas, fishing pools and home to family attractions including Telford Aerial Adventure, Exotic Zoo Wildlife Park, Wonderland and Telford Golf Adventure.
  • The Wrekin and Ercall AONB – Shropshire’s legendary hill with panoramic views across 17 counties.
  • The Telford Centre, Southwater and Telford International Centre – retail, dining, entertainment, and host to major events attracting more than half a million visitors each year.

A place to learn and grow

  • Learn Telford provides high quality learning opportunities for people living in the Borough and contributes to improving skills and employment levels by supporting adults who are low-skilled, unemployed or otherwise distant from learning and employment. We are building a future-ready skills pipeline that supports ambition at every stage of our residents’ career journey.
  • The Quad is a new digital and skills hub located in the heart of Telford. Designed to nurture talent, The Quad supports students from sixth form through further and higher education, as well as budding entrepreneurs. It’s home to Invest Telford the Council’s Business Support and Inward Investment Team alongside Telford College, Harper Adams University and European Innovation who support businesses to get off the ground.
  • Telford College – a leader in technical, professional and sixth form education.
  • Harper Adams University – a world-renowned agri-tech and rural innovation university.
  • Strong school improvement and education partnerships supporting children and young people through the Telford Together partnership from education to employment.

Study Telford is in development to promote the Borough as a student destination.

Live Telford

Telford and Wrekin is one of the most liveable places in the UK where quality of life, green space and community connection come as standard.

  • Nuplace, the Council’s wholly owned company, delivers high-quality rental homes in connected communities.
  • A wide range of homes from new build communities to rural villages – with house prices below the national average, the Borough caters for first time buyers, renters and those relocating to the rural countryside.
  • One of the greenest urban areas in the country, with over 6,000 acres of green spaces and open areas with 89% of households are within 300 meters of accessible green spaces.
  • Family-friendly towns with lots of free and affordable things to do including an annual events programme, great schools with notable Ofsted reports, and active community support and free swimming for everyone under the age of 25.
  • Major investment is being made into new and improved facilities as well as refurbishing and restoring of our historic buildings. Projects include a new state-of-the art Telford Theatre, the restoration of Wellington Market and the regeneration of Oakengates and Wellington Town Centre’s.

Living in Telford means being part of a Borough that puts people first through inclusive regeneration and investment in wellbeing.

Our team says

I am very proud to be part of an extensive team of stakeholders who look after the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.  The Gorge is the jewel in the crown of the extensive heritage that can be found across Telford and Wrekin area.  It is wonderful to be able to care for such an abundance of heritage assets, in such a beautiful place. The area offers local residents easy access to a remarkable historic landscape on their doorstep, where they can enjoy both the built heritage and the stunning natural environment. Laura World Heritage Site Co-ordinator

‘Having been born in Shrewsbury and raised in Telford, I have been a part of this town all of my life. I can steadfastly say that Telford offers a truly unique blend of urban streetscapes, partnered with a hugely diverse Shropshire Countryside. Telford’s designation as a New Town in 1963 (first called Dawley New Town!) has resulted in the area developing a unique personality, where modern urban growth meets our beautiful heritage and serene countryside.

The public infrastructure in the town has been well developed from its inception, resulting in traversing the various areas in the town being very easy and simple, including visiting all the beautiful heritage and tourist assets the town has. Via train, from Wellington, to Telford Central, to Oakengates, or via the plethora of bus routes from all the rural areas to the centre of town, it really is easy to travel around. This makes the whole town accessible through being able to easily and quick travel to any part of Telford. Furthermore, the public transports is actively supported and improved by the Local Authority, who constantly monitor ways to improve accessibility throughout Telford.

As a town, we also manage to provide urban expansion whilst protecting our heritage assets, a very complex and challenging task. Telford and Wrekin Council is recognised as one of 7 Platinum Planning Authority’s in the country, paying homage to the calibre of work the Planning team provides.

Telford always has had a special place in my heart, having seen it grow around me as I, too, have been growing up. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised what Telford has to offer, with its wonderful scenery, heritage, accessible transport, all whilst retaining its unique character as a quaint industrial town. Wherever I’ve travelled in the world, I have found myself comparing aspects of the other places to Telford. It really is a special place.

Growing up, I always thought of Telford as ‘little old Telford’, but I’ve since realised how the borough’s approach to growth is genuinely nation leading, being recognised time and time again for its progress. Telford goes from strength to strength, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for living here.’ – Matt, Planning Assistant