Plans submitted to use Rowley's House in Shrewsbury for university

Graham Fairlie, of the University of Chester, has applied for a change of use of Rowley's House Museum in Barker Street from a museum to an administration and teaching facility.

University Centre Shrewsbury is being established by the University of Chester and Shropshire Council after research showed there was strong demand for and interest in a new institution to serve the needs of the county.

Shropshire Council and the University of Chester are working together to deliver the new university, which they say will be "unique, distinctive and will develop Shropshire's economy whilst also having significant national and international relevance".

The overall design principle is to initially create an education quarter in and around Frankwell, making use of existing council physical assets as part of the teaching, research and learning support. As part of the plans Rowley's House has been picked to be an administration and education centre.

In a report submitted to Shropshire Council it says: "Rowley's House is a key building in the heart of the historic town of Shrewsbury, which shows the sheer volume of wealth of the wool trade at the time of its building in physical form.

"It is remarkably large for a timber framed building, and as the importance of the household grew, was extended in with a grand brick wing.

"It is recognised that it is of regional importance, if not national and as such is listed Grade II.

"The general level of access to this building in Shrewsbury is through bus routes and private vehicular transport, together with pedestrian routes.

"The car parks around the building include specific disability spaces with dropped kerb access to the main south door into Rowley's House.

"Internally the reception area and two proposed teaching rooms are fully accessible together with accessible toilet provision. Staff, other than reception, will be located predominantly at first floor level."

The plans are a change of use application only and will not include any works that will alter the building. The proposal also doesn't increase the current size of the building.

Earlier this month it was confirmed Mardol House, at the top of Mardol and between Shoplatch and Claremont Street, could be transformed into nine self-catering flats with five or six en-suite bedrooms for 49 students and studio apartments for another 36 students.

The development would transform the empty office block, which adjoins the Market Hall, with four of the studio apartments adapted for students with disabilities.

The council, which owns the freehold, has submitted an application to convert part of the building into living quarters for the new University Centre Shrewsbury.

Meanwhile, the conversion of Shrewsbury's Guildhall into university teaching buildings is to be finished by April.