Public will get say on look of Shrewsbury university halls

Councillor Andrew Bannerman, Shropshire councillor for Shrewsbury town centre, had criticised the lack of time available to comment on proposals for student halls at The Tannery, at Barker Street, before the application was submitted.

However, Shropshire Council has said that people will be able to make comments on the appearance of the buildings until the deadline of September 18.

The application has been submitted by Morris Guildhouse Student Partnership.

It is requesting permission to build three four-floor buildings to house 217 students who will be attending University Centre Shrewsbury.

Ian Kilby, Shropshire Council's operations manager, planning services, said that the Shrewsbury Civic Society and the Town Centre Residents' Association would be consulted as part of the process.

The application will have to go before Shropshire's Central Planning Committee for a decision because the authority owns some of the land which will be used for the development.

Mr Kilby said: "Shropshire Council has invited specific consultee groups to submit their thoughts on the application by September 18: these groups include Shrewsbury Civic Society, Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents' Association, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Historic England (West Midlands) and a number of Shropshire Council specialist service teams.

"The application consultation is also open to any neighbours and other public comments. The Morris Guildhouse Student Partnership is the applicant and because Shropshire Council owns some of the land, the application must be determined by planning committee in accordance with the council's scheme of delegation.

"It is anticipated that the application will be considered by the central planning committee at its scheduled meeting of Thursday, October 8."

The proposal includes three main buildings and a postgraduate building which will include a laundry. The buildings will also have a large retaining wall around the rear of the site which will be covered in plants and greenery.

Construction of the accommodation is expected to take around 35 weeks. Shropshire Council is in the process of refurbishing Mardol House for the first undergraduates to arrive on September 25.