Bidding open for £45,000 Shrewsbury masterplan
Shropshire Council has opened bidding on a £45,000 contract to create an "illustrative masterplan" for the future of Shrewsbury.
The masterplan is part of the Big Shrewsbury Town Plan, which will set out priorities and ambitions for the town over the coming years.
The local authority, which is working in partnership with Shrewsbury Business Improvement District and the town council on the project, is looking to appoint a consultant to collaborate with, and create a masterplan and design strategy.
It says the budget for the project is between £40,000 and £45,000.
Earlier this year more than 5,000 people, over a three-week period, visited a pop-up shop to have their say on the future of the town and share their opinions.
Suggestions as part of the consultation were increased levels of pedestrianisation, a revamp of The Riverside, and increased greenspace within the town.
Speaking at the conclusion of the consultation Seb Slater, executive director at Shrewsbury BID, said he was delighted at the response from the public.
The Shropshire Council report on the plan stated: "Ahead of the consultation, we identified four key areas and aims which we have identified as crucial to realising the overall vision. They are, creating a place for enterprise, rethinking movement, enabling vitality and life, and nurturing natural Shrewsbury. Following the consultation we have identified a fifth theme of promoting holistic wellbeing which is being developed, details of which will be shared with the awarded consultant."
Ideas put forward for the Big Town Plan so far, which are likely to be incorporated into the masterplan, include making the town centre roads 'shared use' and more pedestrian-friendly, making use of the offices above the train station and tackling poor air quality.
At the heart of the plan, the team intends to proactively target new businesses in key sectors and says it will also put the River Severn at the heart of the project, create a cycling culture and develop a traffic management strategy.
Expressions of interest must be submitted to Shropshire Council by January 16 with an aim to have the masterplan complete by April.
For more information visit shrewsburybigtownplan.org
