Shrewsbury Gap car park to re-open next week after being closed since July for ground investigations
A Shrewsbury town centre car park will re-open next week after being closed since the summer due to ground investigations.
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Shropshire Council has announced that the Gap car park in Raven Meadows will re-open on Monday, November 11 after investigations related to the Smithfield Riverside redevelopment have been carried out.
The car park has been temporarily closed since July.
Since the closure, management of the car park has been transferred to Shropshire Council and - following a public consultation - the local authority has revealed that charges and charging hours will stay the same as those already in place at the nearby Bridge Street and St Austin’s Street car parks.
During the closure, various boreholes were drilled in the Shrewsbury car park to collect core samples for laboratory testing, and groundwater monitoring installations were put in place to assess water levels and quality.
The investigations, along with additional geological assessments, were “essential to ensure the new development’s design is robust, sustainable, and suitable for the area”, according to the council.
Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for housing and assets, Dean Carroll said: “We’re grateful for the community’s understanding while The Gap car park was closed and appreciate the patience and cooperation of residents, businesses, and visitors during this period.
“Efforts were made to minimise disruption, and all work was carried out within appropriate hours to reduce noise in the town centre. The data gathered from these investigations provides a crucial foundation for the design of the Smithfield Riverside project, ensuring the site’s future as a vibrant space for Shrewsbury.”
Funded by an £18.7 million grant from the UK Government, the Smithfield Riverside regeneration will create new leisure and hospitality venues, office spaces, and modern housing, all aimed at enhancing Shrewsbury’s existing retail landscape and attracting high-quality jobs to the area.
The county council said it will continue to provide updates on the Smithfield Riverside development as work progresses.
