Caught this rendering of the Barker Street development via PropertyWeek which won't allow me to access the article again as I think it's now subscriber only.

Looking far better than the plans!

http://rapidshare.com/files/401093005/1668933_view_1.jpg.html

Hey guys awesome to see a thread on shrewsbury My dad works for morris property the company building the barker street development just thought id throw that out there in case i can help anyone with anything and also what do you guys think of the sculpture by the water and the theater?

From the shropshire star....

Masterplan will help to boost Shrewsbury trade

A masterplan to transform Shrewsbury town centre, including plans to entice more big High Street names, is being drawn up to help boost trade and attract shoppers. The blueprint could go on show to the public as early as September, shopping centre chiefs and council bosses said today. The work, part of the Shrewsbury Vision, has flagged up the area around the bus station in Raven Meadows as a site in need of considerable change.

Richard Lawrence, Shrewsbury Vision officer, said: “We are in discussions with the new owners of the shopping centres in the riverside area. It was all very positive and they are keen to work with us to make a cohesive design for the riverside area. “Our aspiration is to make access better to the river and town centre, better facilities, better quality retail and a higher quality look to the town. “We also want to be able to improve links across the town to the theatre areas and train station. The plans could take shape in around three to five years using a mix of funding, including a substantial amount from the private sector.”

Shrewsbury Vision aims to provide a comprehensive plan identifying regeneration opportunities within the town. The work, which is set to be completed by November, will provide a business plan, a delivery plan and a spatial plan for Shrewsbury. The Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside malls were bought by the UK Commercial Property Trust, managed by Ignis Asset Management, in March in a £61m deal. Peter Bettis, chairman of the Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said: “It’s a very exciting opportunity and it will promote growth and help to boost trade and tourism.”

I found this on flickr... why on earth are Shrewsbury Town advertising here?! :nuts:

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/town.jpg

Clearly a photoshop job. Old STFC logos for a start. And no, there would be no reason why they'd advertise (or could afford to!) at Leicester Square!

Actually, last time I was in Leicester Square there was a similar ad for another football club, in the same font and style. I think it was either Northampton or Wolverhampton, ive got no idea why they were doing that as I passed it quickly on a bus. It was about 1 or 2 years ago though :)

Oh right - may be Coca Cola or Sky or so?

Couple of pictures from the top of the Long Mynd, Church Stretton, from summer:

The mountain in the distance is the Wrekin

http://i51.tinypic.com/9ktt2u.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/256zoma.jpg

wasn't really sure where else to post them :)

Nice photos! Feel free to post them in my shropshire thread if you like :)

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/12/27/young-forced-out-of-shropshire-countryside/

Young ‘forced out of Shropshire countryside’

More and more young people are being forced to leave Shropshire because life in rural villages is disintegrating, according to a new investigation.

South Shropshire is the worst affected area, with almost 40 per cent of people aged between 24 and 35 leaving the area in the 10 years to 2007.

New statistics show that there has also been a dramatic increase in the county’s elderly population, putting additional pressure on services. Almost a quarter of the county’s population was over retirement age in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available. However, that figure is projected to rise significantly.

Campaign to Protect Rural England spokesman Andy Boddington said there was no incentive for young people to stay in Shropshire.

He said: “Low wages, limited work and education opportunities and high house prices mean that too many young people in Shropshire’s rural areas are forced to leave.

“Young people who work in rural communities breathe life into them. They keep our schools alive and help manage our farms and landscapes. They staff the services that holidaymakers and those that retire here need.”

A Shropshire Star investigation has revealed that the closure of schools, shops, pubs and post offices is also contributing to outward migration by youngsters.



Read more: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/12/27/young-forced-out-of-shropshire-countryside/#ixzz18rLgYX51


I guess I fall under this bracket, although I don't really think post office closures has anything to do with young people leaving! In C. Stretton, if you want to work at co-op then stay in town... if you want to aim higher, move out.

^^ I almost felt the need to comment on that story on the newspaper website.
I'd imagine that its not just jobs that are the problem either but it must be ridiculously hard to get affordable accomodation too and that's not likely to change with locals objecting to virtually every housing scheme across the county.

There have been a few local houses built where you had to have gone to my local school to purchase one. I know a couple of families that have moved to C.S in the last few years and they've both come from London... ie selling their crampt flat in the capital let them afford a spacious house in the countryside. Would make a good tv programme :shifty:

Shropshire is an area of outstanding natural beauty... my parents' house would be instantly devalued if the council built the planned 100 houses in the field behind it. This area takes up most of Shropshire... and (for good or for bad) it's preventing new homes being built.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/shrop.jpg

Big developer-built estates can damage small towns like Church Stretton and even more so for villages imo.

I think councils should instead make numerous individual plots or small sites of 3-4 houses available so that families and small local builders can build their own homes. That scale of development is more appropriate there I think, keep big estates for Shrewsbury and Telford.

^ absolutely agree. Developer driven copy-and-paste housing looks hideous anyway... There are so many brilliant examples of modern residential masterplanning but still all that seems to get built is crap estates.

It is common in Church Stretton for people to sell (for instance) half their garden to a friend to then build a house there. These community developments work. There are a lot of new 500k+ houses being built in the town with hardly any land (i.e. less than the footprint) so people are cashing in on owning a plot of land big enough to build another house on.

This is the new Medical Centre thats about to begin construction in Shrewsbury,Its being developed by Morris Property and I think will house a new Medical Centre and Apartments.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5526128559_7e165851e3_b.jpg

Managed to find on a recent Shropshire Council project status update that Shearer Property have secured/put up £180m of funding for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Darwin and Riverside centres.

My guess is a refurbishment will amount to relatively little and that the bulk of that money will be for an impressive rethink of the Raven Meadows site.

This is the new Medical Centre thats about to begin construction in Shrewsbury,Its being developed by Morris Property and I think will house a new Medical Centre and Apartments.

Last I heard there were funding problems related to NHS cuts?

This is the new Medical Centre thats about to begin construction in Shrewsbury.

I can't see the picture :(

Managed to find on a recent Shropshire Council project status update that Shearer Property have secured/put up £180m of funding for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Darwin and Riverside centres.

My guess is a refurbishment will amount to relatively little and that the bulk of that money will be for an impressive rethink of the Raven Meadows site.

Yeah, there isn't a huge amount physically wrong with the interior of the Darwin Centre but there are a concerning number of empty units.

The rest of the town, Wyle Cop, Pride Hill, Mardol, The Square, The Parade etc all seem to be doing quite well with only a handful of empty shops but the two shopping centres are pretty dead.

I took a peek in the new Waitrose site the other day, its coming along well and should be open within a month I think.

Yeah, there isn't a huge amount physically wrong with the interior of the Darwin Centre but there are a concerning number of empty units.

The rest of the town, Wyle Cop, Pride Hill, Mardol, The Square, The Parade etc all seem to be doing quite well with only a handful of empty shops but the two shopping centres are pretty dead.

I took a peek in the new Waitrose site the other day, its coming along well and should be open within a month I think.
The Upper Mall of the Darwin is actually quite pleasant, it's the Lower Mall that needs work, in particular with new lighting.

Waitrose opens May 12th (http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/bf_home/bf/525.html), by the way.

Wow, even sooner than I thought, it'll be a good addition to the town centr I think.

Have you heard any news lately about the plan to build a big store linking the two main shopping centres in the gap on raven meadows? Has it been shelved indefinitely or is it still part of the riverside centre redevelopment?

Wow, even sooner than I thought, it'll be a good addition to the town centr I think.

Have you heard any news lately about the plan to build a big store linking the two main shopping centres in the gap on raven meadows? Has it been shelved indefinitely or is it still part of the riverside centre redevelopment?
I could've sworn I'd seen somewhere that the site was now in ownership of the new centre owners. But I may be getting confused.

Ultimately, I think the redevelopment needs to be part of the urban fabric far more than the current centres. I'm not saying I want hideous mock buildings but something that feels less like a centre and more like an extension of the urban core. This seems to be the way that shopping centre development has been heading recently although, admittedly, Shrewsbury's topography makes things very difficult!

Yes, I think it is all in common ownership, but whether they want to do anything with it at the moment is another matter.

It would be good if the redevelopment of the riverside centre opened up raven meadows into a proper shopping street rather than just a load of blank walls and delivery entrances as it is now, a big department store like debenhams who I think were interested at one point fronting into the 'gap' site would help that I think.

It would be good if the redevelopment of the riverside centre opened up raven meadows into a proper shopping street rather than just a load of blank walls and delivery entrances as it is now, a big department store like debenhams who I think were interested at one point fronting into the 'gap' site would help that I think.
There are some interesting tidbits to be found in latest Growth Point Delivery Plan, published by Shropshire Council.

This includes the following (revised) 'vision' for the Riverside Area:
• Increase in the quality and quantity of the town centre retail offer;
• Delivery of new retail including a department store and hotel and
leisure facilities;
• Active frontage onto Smithfield Road / River Severn including food and beverage;
• Traffic management of Smithfield Road;
• Improved bus station gateway

Raven Meadows is described to be developed as "a major new riverside retail destination project including bars, restaurants, cafes and residential units".

Finally, a timeline has been ascertained. These dates also align with lease expirations on Somerfield and Wilkinson (Jan 2013).

• Discussions with Council on new development opportunity Dec 10
• Steering Group set up March 11
• Specialist advisors procured May 2011
• Public Exhibition for scheme July 11
• Planning application Dec 11
• Start on site Dec 13
• Completion Dec 16

I imagined we'd be seeing some sort of fruition of architectural plans/masterplan around now, so July is a nice surprise.

Sounds promising, I'll keep my eye open for any news :)

Shrewsbury centre in £150m development plan

The owners of Shrewsbury's three main shopping malls are planning a £150m redevelopment of the town centre.

Sixty new shops, including a department store and restaurants are part of the scheme which will link the Pride Hill, Darwin and Riverside complexes.

The developers hope it will be completed in time for Christmas 2015.

A public exhibition of the proposals will be held in the Darwin Centre from 14 to 16 July.

Adam Markwell, the director of the Shearer Group which is behind the scheme, said the main area of development would be around the existing Riverside Centre.

"The problem with the town is that you've got these three disconnected shopping centres and all three are rather tired.

Big names

"So the idea will be to redevelop completely the Riverside area and to create a new scheme which links seamlessly into the Darwin and Pride Hill centres," he said.

The company is hoping to attract big name stores and Mr Markwell said the Shearer Group had already had discussions with both Debenhams and Primark.

He is hoping for a good turn out at the public exhibition next month.

"It's important to us that we get the views of the people of Shrewsbury on those plans.

"Members of the development team will be there to discuss the proposals with the public and answer their queries," Mr Markwell said.

He said he hoped to put in a planning application later this year and start work by the summer of 2013.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-13903917

I was just about to post that! You saved me a job...

It sounds similar to earlier proposals but at least it's back on the agenda now.

Shropshire Live (http://www.shropshirelive.com/2011/06/24/shrewsbury-shopping-centres-to-merge/) / Property Week have a few more details and have published a render.

http://www.shropshirelive.com/files/2011/06/New-Riverside.jpg

The redevelopment will create a further 225,000 sq ft of retail space in the newly combined centre, including a 97,000 sq ft department store.

Guy Shearer, founder of Shearer Property Group, said: “Shrewsbury has fallen behind in the last few years because the town simply does not offer the size or quality of units required by modern retailers. The catchment is very strong, but trade is leaking elsewhere.

“Shrewsbury town centre has not seen any significant development for 20 years. The redevelopment of Riverside anchored by a full-line department store and refurbishment of Pride Hall and Darwin is well overdue and will take Shrewsbury into the retail premier league.”

Seems like this is a more comprehensive scheme than it first seemed and that both Darwin and Pride Hill centres will be refurbished and connected. I assume this means the opportunity is being taken to utilise the Gap site land.

There is another render on the Shropshire Star website today.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/SD3846271@centresch08-p4.jpg

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/07/05/first-glimpse-of-shrewsbury-riverside-plans/

It looks like the building on the right at least will have a green roof.

The Shropshire Star reports (http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/07/19/shoppers-welcome-shrewsbury-riverside-plans/) that around 90 per cent of some 600 consultation forms were in favour of the development, with just 3 per cent expressing opposition.

Personally, I tried to be as critical as possible and that was fairly hard. I'd have preferred active frontages at ground level, but ultimately the site is awkward and there was a need to make the existing centres as appealing to new retailers as the new development.

I questioned the apparent lack of access from Upper Darwin outside Laura Ashley to Lower Darwin, which appeared to necessitate a lengthy walk to access the lower level and 'New Riverside' which may favour entrance via the Pride Hill Centre. The Restaurant Terrace also seems a little awkward to access from the 'Central Plaza', requiring access via Darwin or the Department Store. That surely makes night-time access a little tricky.

I'm generally very impressed, though. It'd be interesting to hear what you guys on here think, given that you'll follow similar developments elsewhere. Cabot Circus has been mentioned a number of times in developer interviews and was name-dropped while I chatted to an architect at the exhibition. Personally, I think they've vastly improved on the experience gained there and managed a far better streetscape and balance of levels. Cabot can feel a little too much like a set of shopping balconies and endless escalator rides.

http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/main_photo4.jpg

http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/main_photo2.jpg

http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/main_photo3.jpg

http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/main_photo6.jpg

http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/large-level4.pnghttp://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/large-level5.pnghttp://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/images/large-level6.png

It looks very nice! Very Cabot Circus (Bristol)/ Trinity Quarter (Leeds), it's encouraging that Shrewsbury has plans to rival new big city shopping centres. And no mock Tudor in sight! ;)


Official Website: http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/

(please submit feedback)


9iRmtbfqKCI&feature=player_embedded
(video from the website)


PDF document: http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/downloads/newriverside-infopanels.pdf

Just out of curiosity, I was in Shrewsbury on Tuesday and noticed the market hall was under scaffolding and that there was steelwork being erected below the clocktower , was just wondering to what extent this renovation is , Reclad? (heres hoping), or just a tidy up inside? (most likely).

Just out of curiosity, I was in Shrewsbury on Tuesday and noticed the market hall was under scaffolding and that there was steelwork being erected below the clocktower , was just wondering to what extent this renovation is , Reclad? (heres hoping), or just a tidy up inside? (most likely).
AFAIK it's just a "refurbishment" which will replace the glazing, no re-clad unfortunately. Certainly haven't seen any planning apps go in for that.

Just seen on the Planning portal that the Barker Street development looks to have stalled. Morris are asking for permission to use the land in front of the new church as car parking, no doubt because they're stopping work on the Medical Practice/Pharmacy/Convenience store portion of the building.

Did anyone find out the name of the architects of the new shopping centre? Typical developers & marketers with their lack of care/respect for the people who designed it! :ohno:

AFAIK it's just a "refurbishment" which will replace the glazing, no re-clad unfortunately. Certainly haven't seen any planning apps go in for that.

Just seen on the Planning portal that the Barker Street development looks to have stalled. Morris are asking for permission to use the land in front of the new church as car parking, no doubt because they're stopping work on the Medical Practice/Pharmacy/Convenience store portion of the building.

Yeah the medical client pulled out of the development and theyve been trying to get permission for other things such as apartments i think.

Did anyone find out the name of the architects of the new shopping centre? Typical developers & marketers with their lack of care/respect for the people who designed it! :ohno:
Chapman Taylor (http://www.chapmantaylor.com) are the architects. They were lead architects on Cabot Circus, Bristol, and designed Trinity Leeds.

Yeah the medical client pulled out of the development and theyve been trying to get permission for other things such as apartments i think.
I assume the original plan for apartments on the upper floors will be favoured now over offices. Perhaps the whole ground floor will become retail, which'd be good if it's a Sainsbury's Local or the like.


This Shropshire Live article (http://www.shropshirelive.com/2011/08/01/new-riverside-is-once-in-a-generation-chance-to-secure-shrewsbury-as-a-retail-destination/) cheered me up this morning! And in other news, there's interest in 39-40 High Street (the old Beso Beso/Baileys restaurant/bar)-"a restauranteur" who is presently preparing a fit-out design. I'm guessing no contracts are yet signed, however.

Thanks Samluke :)

An update to share..

Anyone else notice the old Oakapple Furniture at the bottom of Wyle Cop is "Under Offer"? With any luck (and in this climate), it's a bar/pub/restaurant.

That, and the premises of the Shropshire Star and a kitchen retailer have been purchased along with the adjacent land on Abbey Foregate. With any luck, a new building will replace the current units and land.

Animal are fitting out their unit in the old Orange on Mardol Head.

Poundworld will be moving into the Dreams unit at Meole Brace Retail Park.

Pre-app for Waitrose on Oteley Road has gone in. A little disappointed that the Focus store at Meole Brace wasn't considered but good news nonetheless.

Gondola Holdings have put in an application to refurbish/fit out the former Baileys/Beso Beso which means we'll be seeing ASK or Pizza Express moving or Zizzi locating in town :D

Zizzi would be best, no point relocating the others, especially ASK just 50m down the road!

According to the notice on the door it is going to be a Zizzi.

In other retail news, a new organic grocery shop has opened by the station where Wild Thyme wholefoods used to be, fashion designer Claire Mischevani has moved from The Square to the top of Wyle Cop, a new bakery is soon to open on Hills Lane and an art/antiques place is coming soon to the former Live Easy shop on Dogpole.

Also the townhouse development at St Julian Friars fiiiiinally seems to be nearing completion, there look to be a couple of retail units located on the ground floor.

I've posted some updated Shrewsbury photos in the thread in my signature link.

Also, a new funding package is being put together for Ditherington Flax Mill so hopefully we'll see some developments there.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-15420755

Funding hope for Ditherington Flax Mill

A group from Shropshire is hoping a fresh bid for funding to help regenerate a historic mill will be successful.

Ditherington Flax Mill in Shrewsbury has been described by English Heritage as "at risk" due to neglect and decay.

The Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings Group said they are working on a "much improved bid" to the Heritage Lottery fund.

In 2010, their £12.7m bid was rejected.

Alan Moseley from the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings Group, said: "The steering group are now working hard to work up a much improved bid that can go into Heritage Lottery Fund at the end of next month.

"We are also likely to be calling upon local people and all those interested to give support as the bid goes through the various processes."

As well as the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings Group, the steering group making the bid includes Shropshire Council and English Heritage.

Latest round of administrations may severely affect vacancy and retail jobs in Shrewsbury.

On Pride Hill, I imagine Past Times will not find a buyer for the remaining stores not closed this month. The property would likely be filled by LUSH. GVA confirmed several months ago that they want space on Pride Hill only. Bonmarche (owned by Peacocks) will close more than 150 of its 394 stores.

A further blow to the shopping centres now that Hawkin's Bazaar collapsed and La Senza in the Darwin Shopping Centre was not bought by new owners Alshaya. La Senza's remaining units are being disposed of by Harper Dennis Hobbs who are yet to list leases for sale. The future of Peacocks in Pride Hill looks uncertain.

On Claremont Street, Argos will close tomorrow (20th January) on lease expiry and co-incides with store closures in Harpenden, Sheffield & Northampton. The size of the unit makes it most suited to use as a convenience store (given the loading bay and storage).

Closures aside, Bistro Jaques (owned by Liverpudlian chain Bistro Qui) has started work in the former Briggs - despite having been granted planning consent about 18 months ago. Here's what to expect. (http://www.bistrojacques.com/)

The former Briggs store should make a good bistro. I wonder if they'll have outdoor seating, there's space for it.

With the latest closures the Darwin centre will be looking quite empty in contrast to most of the shopping streets around the town centre which are looking healthy. You have to wonder whether the shopping centres are simply charging too much rent compared to elsewhere....

The rent must be pretty high but I can't imagine that the reconfigurations of all the units needed will be encouraging much interest as it will surely (?) involve short-term lets.

The Chronicle reports plans are being delayed by consultation with English Heritage and will be submitted/unveiled 27th January. Incidentally, Waitrose will also unveil plans for Percy Thrower's that same day.

News seems to be flowing at the moment..

Plans (below) for Princess House are 'back to the drawing board' after many criticisms that the ground floor re-glazing would reduce the effectiveness of the design's only redeeming feature, its jettied elevations. With any luck, this means a more comprehensive re-clad rather than it being abandoned altogether.

http://s7.postimage.org/kp4yl95p7/princesshouse_take_two.jpg

I've scanned the flyer for the new Waitrose at Percy Thrower's should this not be put online before planning is submitted in March. Let me know if the image host I've used won't work!

The plans, which represent an investment of £40million, would see a larger Garden Centre increased from 48,000sq ft to 60,000sqft and a new Waitrose supermarket of 30,000sq ft, employing 200 people to complement its existing town centre Little Waitrose. A parade of 7 new retail / commercial units amounting to 7,000sq ft would also be developed on the site.

A new traffic light controlled junction from Oteley Road and highways improvements including a new pedestrian crossing would be .

Parking provision for 582 cars and a new traffic light controlled junction from Oteley Road along with a new pedestrian crossing would also be made.

A sustainable energy centre on the site will help power the Waitrose store, with landscaping and public realm to include a new Percy Thrower Memorial Garden.

The proposal has evolved against the backdrop of the Shrewsbury South Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) which is allocated in the Shropshire Core Strategy. The development would form the new Local Centre to support new housing and employment development. The proposal is evolving in such a way that it would represent Phase 1 of its delivery and has been designed and laid out in order to maximise connectivity to existing and proposed developments in the area.

http://s14.postimage.org/xo1ciikel/waitrose_percy_flyer_1.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/xo1ciikel/) http://s14.postimage.org/fioe4gkwd/waitrose_percy_flyer_2.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/fioe4gkwd/)

And The Buttermarket has been bought for £325,000 by the owner of C:21.

http://www.shropshirelive.com/2012/01/26/new-owner-of-shropshire-nightclub-announces-1million-investment-and-jobs-boost/

The planning application has now been submitted. (http://planningpa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/caseDetails.do?action=dispatch&keyVal=LYGQHBTD02B00&caseType=Application)

http://s18.postimage.org/81cxnykxl/View_A2.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s18.postimage.org/wj51buni1/View_A1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s18.postimage.org/raa0dz52x/View_A3.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s18.postimage.org/z1qqcj989/View_A4.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Principle changes include a non-store pedestrian access at Mardol (supposedly popular - including with myself - at public consultation) and the removal of access from the department store to the restaurant terrace, allowing for greater restaurant space. View preliminary plans here. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=81799088&postcount=279)

http://s11.postimage.org/llsi4874j/Plan_12.jpg

http://s11.postimage.org/wa0ugt6hf/Plan_34.jpg

http://s11.postimage.org/e8hpj0cgj/Plan_56.jpg

Looking pretty darn good if you ask me. A significant improvement on what is currently there any way.

Looks pretty decent, much better than what's there now, though I do wonder if they'll be able to put the finance together in the current retail climate....

So looking at those plans the gap between the two existing centres will not be touched?

Looks pretty decent, much better than what's there now, though I do wonder if they'll be able to put the finance together in the current retail climate....
As far as finance, press releases on property websites suggest that this debt facility (http://www.ukcpt.co.uk/news/debt-facility.aspx) (as the £150m figure suggests) directly corresponds to their development in Shrewsbury. So the funding is put together and hinges only on other market factors.
So looking at those plans the gap between the two existing centres will not be touched?
Just noticed I'd not included one render that I'd uploaded..

http://s12.postimage.org/dusbj50rh/View_B1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

You'll see they've included the approved design for the Gap site, citing 'protection' of other developer interests. I can only imagine that Morris demanded too much either from the land value or contracting on the works.

Perhaps we'll see the development there go ahead under a non-retail guise now that it's very unlikely to go ahead in linking the centres. Perhaps a leisure scheme?

Hi all, I've been round central Shrewsbury this last week conducting some research into the retail-type premises in the town and what they are used for. Here are the results split into different areas.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jonesy55/Shrewstowncentre.png

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jonesy55/Shrewsretailsurvey.png

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jonesy55/Shrewsretailsurvey.png
Some interesting figures! Liking the direct comparison between multiples and independents but I wonder how those figures do against other similar centres, say like Chester or Hereford. It would have been interesting to see just how prolific charity shops were, too. (Did you include those as chain stores or 'other commercial'?)

Interesting that you also record retail vacanacy as 12.8% across the board and including Frankwell and the Abbey etc. I've compiled a map (nicked from the Tesco planning documents) which puts retail-only vacancy within the river loop at 12.9% by unit number. The LDC figures always seemed suspect. Here's my map. (http://www.mediafire.com/?xcfqbv6bxkd3f33) It's amazing though that we can compile these things but that the main databases can be so out of date that properties going on the market now can still be incorrect.. eg. Shoon (http://www.shopproperty.co.uk/DisplayShop.aspx?TenancyCode=40006337542KGOG) with Animal, Jane Norman, Ann Harvey and Past Times supposedly still occupied; and Bon Marche (http://www.shopproperty.co.uk/DisplayShop.aspx?TenancyCode=40006246302WMLN) showing Butcher Row half-vacant.

^^ I was in two minds what to do with charity shops, maybe I should have made a separate category for them. In the end I put the into the 'chain retail' category. I'd estimate that there are maybe 10-15 charity shops in there in total.

'Other commercial' was mostly hairdressers, beauty salons etc plus some bookies and a few assorted extras.

I think the Jane Norman shop is now reoccupied by an independent clothing retailer, Past Times is definitely shut though now. You can see how the retail is ever-changing as you walk around, I saw a few 'closing down sales' and very recently closed shops but also several unoccupied units being fitted for new traders.

Nice map btw! :okay:

New riverside shopping centre given planning approval!

http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/

Noticed the other day that the new housing development on the old Severn Apprentice pub site is coming along rapidly, looks pretty good I think....

http://www.allistergodfrey.com/case-studies/town-centre-development/

http://www.allistergodfrey.com/wpcms/wp-content/gallery/town-center-development/web_road-2.jpg

Also the development work on the Gay Meadow site has started in earnest...

http://www.dwh.co.uk/Find-A-Home/New-Developments/H4310-Riverside-Meadow/?mode=2

http://www.dwh.co.uk/images/original/SCR139289.jpg

And finally ground has been broken on the new Premier Inn hotel project on the old Telephone House site...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/jonesy55/2012-04-13_11-21-06.jpg

Have to agree about the old Severn Apprentice pub site, liking that architectural style. It goes beyond mock and re-interprets.

Alterations to Princess House were approved today - only after several revisions. Can't say they're great but with any luck an application for alterations to the upper floors will go in shortly and the whole lot will get done at the same time.

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/5269/princesshouserevised.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/princesshouserevised.jpg/)

Anchor tenant for New Riverside centre revealed, no great surprise, but things seem to be progressing nicely....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-17771893

Debenhams to be Shrewsbury shopping centre 'anchor tenant'

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/59070000/jpg/_59070923_riverside_centre_gv_464.jpg

A major department store has agreed to be the "anchor tenant" at a Shropshire shopping centre, according to developers.

Debenhams will move into Shrewsbury's Riverside centre as part of a £150m redevelopment that will create other shops, restaurants, bars and offices.

Owners UK Commercial Property Trust (UKCPT) who own all three of Shrewsbury's main shopping centres said a pre-let agreement had been signed with the store.

Shropshire County Council granted planning permission last month.

The redevelopment also features a 300-space underground car park and would connect the centre to the Darwin and Pride Hill centres.

The chairman of UKCPT, Christopher Hill, said: "The Council's decision to approve our plans and the signing of a pre-let with a leading national department store operator in Debenhams represent a major step forward for the planned New Riverside redevelopment.

"With these critical milestones achieved, UKCPT will continue to progress its plans for the scheme, while assessing all options for the creation of maximum value on behalf of its shareholders."

Anchor tenant for New Riverside centre revealed, no great surprise, but things seem to be progressing nicely....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-17771893
Good to know it isn't dead in the water before it's got going!

Noticed today that the (temporary) furniture store in the former Bonmarche on Pride Hill is closing Sunday. That must mean that the 'Under Offer' status it's had the last few weeks is progressing to close the deal. Any guesses!?

I'm quite surprised it wasn't a John Lewis, but a Debenhams makes sense too. Good to know this is still going ahead. Whenever we go to Shrewsbury we go in Darwin and around the town, but never touch Pride Hill or Riverside, because my family thinks there's "nothing there". And well, they're probably right, for now. But in the future...:cheers:

Thanks for keeping us up to date Jonesy! That Allister Godfrey building looks pretty decent, and good news regarding the new shopping centre - I haven't read this thread for a while :cheers:

There are some attractive new visuals on the website: http://www.newriverside-shrewsbury.co.uk/sustainability-community.htm