Revised plans for Shrewsbury's Dana prison backed
Revised plans for the redevelopment of Shrewsbury's Dana Prison have been welcomed by the town's business leaders.
Members of Shrewsbury BID, the body which represents more than 500 business in the town, met with members of The Osborne Group who wish to develop the prison.
New plans are due to be submitted to Shropshire Council and developers have addressed concerns raised by residents and local councillors regarding parking, congestion and traffic flow and insufficient residential development.
The new plans have increased the residential element of the scheme and amended parking spaces and access.
Although disappointed that the previous mixed use scheme was rejected by Shropshire Council's planning committee, Shrewsbury BID has now said it will fully support the new plans put forward by Trevor Osborne, which will bring an iconic building back to full usage, benefitting the profile and economy of the town centre.
Mike Matthews, chairman of Shrewsbury BID and owner of The Prince Rupert Hotel said: “Trevor Osborne is an experienced operator within the UK property sector and has a background of identifying historic and unique properties which, with significant investment and careful planning, can transform the building and enhance the surrounding areas.
"I am very pleased that Trevor has identified Shrewsbury as a town he wishes to invest in and his plans for the Dana Prison will undoubtedly enhance the property whilst retaining the heritage of its past, to the benefit of Shrewsbury as a destination.”
Architects are finalising a revised planning application for the site, which will be submitted to Shropshire Council.
The Osborne Group bought the Grade II listed prison in 2014 and submitted plans to transform it in to student and residential accommodation, shops, restaurants, Shrewsbury's Walled Garden and a gym.
But Shropshire Council turned down the plans last December, despite officer's recommendations, over concerns of a lack of parking and 'over development'.
Before its closure in 2013,The Dana was a category B/C men’s prison and in 2005 was said to be the most overcrowded prison in England and Wales.
A report in June 2012 by the Prison Reform Trust found it was holding 326 prisoners in spaces designed for 170 men.
