Shropshire shopping centre could be demolished under proposals
A shopping centre in Shropshire could be demolished under plans to support a regeneration project in Shrewsbury town centre.
Proposals to demolish Riverside Shopping Centre have been recommended for approval ahead of a planning committee meeting in March.
Under the proposals a medical centre, a police station, a former nightclub, and bridges connecting the scheme to a car park and the closed Pride Hill Shopping Centre will also be demolished.
The application forms part of the wider Smithfield Riverside Project, which looks to replace the ageing shopping centres with offices, a cinema, shops, a public park, and a hotel.
A report drawn up for Shropshire Council’s northern planning committee reads: “The benefits of the proposed application are considered significant in bringing forward high-quality, accessible public realm that would enhance the landscaping and biodiversity of the town centre and the setting of nearby heritage assets.
“The principle of the development and the phased approach in accordance with the illustrative masterplan is accepted; the development has the potential to positively contribute to the delivery of wider investment, regeneration, and town centre management strategies.”