Shrewsbury Riverside Shopping Centre redevelopment still on the table, says councillor

Councillor Steve Charmley, the authority's cabinet member in charge of business and the economy, listed the site as one of a number of priorities for the council in the coming year.

Others include Tern Hill Barracks, Shrewsbury's Ditherington Flax Mill, Shrewsbury Business Park and Oswestry Innovation Park.

Regular conversations continue to take place between the owners of The Riverside, and officers at Shropshire Council, said Councillor Charmley.

He said: "The council continues to work with Standard Life Investments on their preparation of alternative proposals for the Riverside Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury."

A proposals fore the redevelopment of The Riverside was intended to represent a new era for Shrewsbury's town centre, with the creation of a 225,000sq ft shopping complex.

However, the plans have been on hold for the past couple of years while they are reviewed.

It is unlikely that the project will go ahead as previously imagined, particularly because Standard Life Investments agreed to spend millions on their existing Shrewsbury shopping centres, including extensive alterations to allow Primark to open later next year.

There have been a number of suggestions for the future of the Riverside Centre, including a location for a new town centre swimming pool.

Councillor Charmley said that the council would also continue work with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to find a future use for Clive Barracks, near Market Drayton.

He said: "Following the announcement of the closure of Clive Barracks at Tern Hill by 2022 the council is working with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on a future plan for the redevelopment of the site.

The council is also working with a 'task force' established by Owen Paterson MP that, includes Shropshire Council and the local parish council representatives and other stakeholders with an interest in the redevelopment of the site."

Last week Mr Paterson suggested trying to entice Jaguar Land Rover to base their new electric car facility at the site.

Another significant scheme now expected to go ahead is the long-awaited restoration of the Flax Mill. Although the project is dependent on grant funding being awarded next month.

Councillor Charmley said: "Historic England (HE) is working closely with colleagues from Shropshire Council's economic growth team to progress the regeneration of the Flaxmill Maltings masterplan site.

"The first stage of works to create a new visitor centre is now complete with the Friends of Flaxmill Maltings opening and managing the public space and activities.

"A significant amount of work has been undertaken to develop a revised second stage scheme which includes the restoration of the internationally significant main mill with the ground floor dedicated to interpretation and activity space and upper floors allocated for commercial use. The scheme has recently been granted planning permission by the council.

"Although £12.8m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has already been awarded, this was based on an original application which was submitted by Shropshire Council.

"It was not possible to deliver that scheme due to tight European Regional Development Fund deadlines, an extended programme and increased costs.

"The revised scheme submitted by HE to HLF summarises the main changes and requests an increased grant.

"A decision on the grant funding will be known in January 2017 and if successful work will start later in 2017."

In terms of the future of the site Historic England is also working on plans for housing and commercial use of the wider brownfield site.