Shopping centre demolition plans lodged

Plans for the demolition of Shrewsbury’s Riverside shopping centre have been lodged by Shropshire Council.

The shopping centre, the former Riverside Medical Centre and Park Lane nightclub buildings would be knocked down as part of the scheme, with a proposed new public park, known as Roushill Park, set to take shape following the initial site clearance.

The application is the first phase of the authority’s Riverside regeneration scheme, which will eventually see the linked Pride Hill Shopping Centre razed to the ground along with the multi-storey Raven Meadows car park.

The council says its emerging masterplan for the four hectare Smithfield site will help to create a “highly liveable” town centre which is designed for pedestrians and cyclists. A major transport strategy for the town is also expected to be unveiled early next year.

Shropshire Council controversially purchased three of the town’s main shopping centres for £51m in 2018 to facilitate the redevelopment.

In a planning statement, Shropshire Council said the new park will “set the standard” for its regeneration scheme, with a series of small gardens, an amphitheatre and other event space planned for the new public realm.

“The Park comprises a series of garden terraces which step down towards the river. It is anticipated that each garden would have its own character and host its own activities,” it says.

“An amphitheatre steps down from the higher level podium creating new views towards the River Severn and the Welsh Bridge.”

The document says the park development will constitute a “substantial increase” in greenspace for the site and new trees, plants and rainwater runoff pools will provide a biodiversity net gain.

The authority also laid out an approximate timetable for the wider regeneration scheme, which will see a detailed application brought forward for a mixed use office development to replace the Riverside Centre in early 2024.

Three new building plots will be included in the Riverside development, which could be used for offices, hotel or residential buildings, while the areas under the blocks could be used for car parking on the site.

A new link road between Raven Meadows and Smithfield Road is included in the masterplan, which the council says will reduce the amount of traffic on Roushill.

In a statement, Ian Nellins, deputy leader of Shropshire Council, said the phase one application was an “important milestone” for the redevelopment plans.

“A great deal of work has taken place to get us to this stage and we are excited to submit our first of several planning applications, as we look to begin the transformation of this key area in our town centre and after many years and much talk, this starts becoming a reality,” he said.

“Although this specific application relates to the proposed public park on Roushill, it was great to start conversations about the wider masterplan in general and future phases.”

A decision on the plans will be made by the council’s planning committee next year.