English Partnership's developer partner for the urban extension to Telford will be chosen in May.

English Partnerships has announced a shortlist of developers for the urban extension planned for Lawley in Telford, Shropshire.

Taylor Woodrow Developments, Cofton, Redrow, Wilson Bowden, Lovell and a consortium of George Wimpy, Persimmon and Barratts are through to stage two, which will take four months to complete.

In the second stage developers will have to provide samples of housing which will be evaluated against high environmental standards and urban design codes and a financial bid from each company.

The successful candidate will be appointed in May 2005 and will join EP and the Borough of Telford & Wrekin to deliver around 3,300 new homes and a range of office, retail, leisure and community facilities.

Peter Murray, English Partnerships, area director West Midlands said: “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 new housing on the former opencast and shaft coal mine will provide 20% of Telford’s housing requirement over the next ten years.