Shrewsbury New Riverside shopping centre site owners ‘still committed to plan’

Planning guidance issued as part of an application for a new Sports Direct store at Meole Brace Retail Park, claims that the redevelopment of the Riverside remains on the cards.

The original £150 million scheme, which would have linked the Riverside with the Darwin and Pride Hill centres, was originally approved in 2012 but was put on hold a year later

The plan was for a redeveloped Riverside centre to be linked with the town's other two shopping centres, with a large department store as an "anchor tenant".

Shropshire Council owns the freehold of the Riverside Centre, and UK Commercial Property Trust (UKCPT) holds a long lease of the centre.

Standard Life Investments are the asset managers for UKCPT.

Shropshire Council has confirmed it is currently investigating its "role in the future of the three main shopping centres in Shrewsbury".

Planning permission for the scheme has now expired so any redevelopment would need a fresh planning consent.

Speaking at the unveiling of the authority's economic strategy last month the council's chief executive, Clive Wright, said: "We are on the cusp of should we buy back the town centre and make our shopping centre flourish, and make Shrewsbury the county town it should be.

"There's so much we can do if we take control and start to invest."

The planning guidance issued this week states: "The New Riverside scheme gained an approval in 2012, and it is acknowledged the delivery of this scheme faced delays.

"The approval has recently lapsed. However, it is also clear the site’s owners UKCPT continue to be committed to the site’s redevelopment in the medium term.

"The New Riverside scheme should therefore continue to be considered a major town centre investment opportunity and therefore requires suitable and appropriate protection."

The planning guidance, which has been issued to NJL – the consultants managing the application to build the new Sports Direct, says that planning permission conditions could be included to protect Shrewsbury's town centre, and the potential New Riverside development.

It states: "The argument presented by NJL is sound in principle given that Sports Direct are seeking to relocate from their existing site at Meole Brace Retail Park and appear not to be seeking a town centre representation at this stage.

"It also appears unlikely that Sports Direct is the type of retailer that would be considered as an anchor tenant for any future Riverside scheme.

"However, the applicant is applying for an open A1 permission not dependent upon the end-user. This does raise concerns regarding the ongoing control of the new premises, particularly in a scenario where Sports Direct were to vacate the premises. On this basis, and in order to secure any subsequent user would not have a significant adverse impact on the New Riverside proposal, it is recommended that a condition be applied restricting the end user to Sports Direct or to a bulky goods use.

"Ahead of the delivery of the New Riverside scheme, it is considered such a condition is necessary in order to allow the council sufficient control over the ongoing use of the premises. It is understood the specifications of the proposed unit have been designed to the specific requirements of Sports Direct, and on this basis it is considered a restrictive condition would be reasonable."