Shrewsbury Riverside development moves forward despite calls for a pause
Moves to redevelopment Shrewsbury's Riverside area have taken a step forward after councillors voted to knock down a shopping centre and former medical practice at a cost of £3.8 million.
The Riverside Shopping Centre and old GP surgery next to it - which this week have been surrounded by floodwater from the River Severn - will be replaced with a base for multiple agencies including the local authority.
Shropshire Council members agreed to moving forward with creating a detailed design for the hub at a full council meeting on Thursday.
Councillors also agreed to move to the design stage for the demolition of the former Pride Hill shopping centre, which is set to be redeveloped and used as a leisure area and travel hub.
The council bought the town's two major shopping centres at a cost of £51m back in 2018 but the cost of the buildings has since plummeted by more than £38m.
The latest plans could see a cinema, a new 'Shirehall', a 'transport hub', and eventually up to two hotels, offices, and up to 270 homes built on the land.
It could also include a quayside running along the bank of the River Severn, as well as a new footbridge to replace the current one which connects Frankwell Car Park and Riverside.
The Riverside area next to Smithfield Road is a regular flooding spot and was submerged this week for the third year in a row.
There was strong debate at the meeting about linking the Riverside development to the demolition of the council's existing Shirehall base, with two amendments calling for a pause to think again.
Both were defeated 27 votes to 20.
Councillor Dean Carroll, for the Conservative group, stressed that the vote on the Shirehall was only to look at options before coming back to full council.
He called the building a "carbuncle" on the face of Shrewsbury.
Councillor Ed Potter said the Riverside redevelopment would bring huge economic benefits to Shrewsbury town centre.
Meanwhile Labour councillor Alan Moseley, also the leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said that he recognised the value of redevelopment despite the "appalling" decision to buy the shopping centre. But he said there should be a pause for more consultation and to look in particular at plans for the future of the Shirehall, including talking to staff.
"We must ensure we are not creating an ivory tower or a white elephant," he said.
Several members called for a rethink on the Shirehall with Mary Davies saying it was a massive decision on which there was not need to rush.
"The Shirehall is a statement building and once it has gone it has gone forever."
Green councillor Julian Dean said there were already big differences in the early artist impressions and the latest ones which were creeping towards something more heavily developed.
"We should pause before committing £9 million to it," he said.
"Before we agree this shiny new development we should ensure it does not derail our plans to be a sustainable, resilient carbon neutral and local wealth creating council."
There were also calls from Oswestry-based Green councillor Duncan Kerr to look at using buildings across the county for the work of Shropshire Council rather than build a new civic hub.
