The building will form a centerpiece of the £250m Southwater development and will house the council’s First Point customer centre and the new Telford Library as well as tourist information, a cafe and exhibition area for community. Flexible office space will also be available for the community, voluntary and public sector use.

The name of the four storey building is yet to be confirmed as is currently subject to a public consultation.

Following approval, designs will be developed further in preparation for contractor, Morgan Sindall, who will be commencing works on site in autumn this year. It is expected that the building will be ready to open its doors to the public in early 2014.

Work on the Southwater development is full steam ahead with work nearing completion on extensively refurbished Telford Ice Rink, which is due to open in October. Permissions have already obtained for an 11 screen cinema, due to open in late 2013, new bars and restaurants, a Premier Inn hotel and a multi storey car park.

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Borough Towns Development, said: “The building will sit pride of place in the Southwater development and provide visitors as well as local residents easy access to a range of information as well as the opportunity to hire rooms and use modern library services.

“The Southwater development has given us a fantastic opportunity to inwardly invest in Telford and Wrekin with our partners to attract more business and tourism opportunities.

“By sharing building and maintenance costs services such as libraries and First Point can come together to make essential savings for Telford & Wrekin Council at the same time as providing customers with one place where they can access ours and many partners services.”