Shrewsbury's shopping malls in £150m merger

Shrewsbury's three shopping centres will be merged to create a £150 million mall including a new department store, it was revealed by the owners today.

The move will see the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside centres renamed New Riverside under plans which will also see the centres linked with the River Severn.

In addition to a new department store, up to 60 new shops and restaurants will be created.

Bosses said the proposals would make Shrewsbury a "more attractive" place to shop and visit.

The plans will be officially unveiled at a public exhibition running from July 14 to 16.

Members of the public are being encouraged to give their views on the plans at an exhibition which will be held in the Darwin Centre.

Owner of the centres, UK Commercial Property Trust, is being advised by Ignis Real Estate and the Shearer Property Group.

Guy Shearer, of SPG, said: "The centre of the town has not seen any significant development for 20 years. The redevelopment and refurbishment of these three centres is well overdue and will provide a significant improvement in the shopping offer by attracting a new department store to the town, together with other important retailers not currently represented.

"We want to invest in Shrewsbury's shopping centres to complement the existing shopping choice and thereby attract more visitors and shoppers to the town."

Officials say the transformation will be achieved through a combination of redevelopment and refurbishment and will be undertaken in phases.

If approved, work could start on site by summer 2013 and be completed by autumn 2015.