The emerging masterplan for Smithfield Riverside builds on the vision and key principles set out in the Big Town Plan (2018) and the Shrewsbury Masterplan Vision (2021).

The overall quality of the design will adhere to the high standards outlined in the emerging Shrewsbury Design Code, which was shaped earlier this year following public consultation.

The Smithfield Riverside masterplan has also been designed in response to the principles contained within the emerging Movement Strategy: most notably in terms of improving walking routes and connections in-and-around the town centre.

Crucially, the masterplan’s phased, flexible design will ensure key amenities like the Darwin Centre and Premier Inn can continue to function as normal throughout any future construction.

Footfall in the Darwin Centre is still rising and the centre is almost fully let.

Throughout the redevelopment programme, the Darwin Centre will remain largely as is, but with a key ambition to ensure better connectivity to the venue and provide new complementary uses nearby which will help to increase footfall.

This is ultimately why we purchased the centres. The true value of the decision to purchase the three centres is that we now have full control over the future of the area.

It was always the intention to move to having just one shopping centre and two areas of prime development land, which the planning application for the demolition of Riverside will formalise. This will allow us to create something more commercially sustainable and future proof our town centre.

Shropshire Council, supported by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership, recently secured £18.7 million of Levelling Up Funding from Government to further support the regeneration of Shrewsbury town centre. Most of this funding will be used for demolition and enabling works on the Smithfield Riverside site, including the delivery of the new Roushill Park.

Shropshire Council has also secured Getting Building Fund (GBF) via the Marches Enterprise Partnership, which will be used to support the redevelopment of Pride Hill.

Beyond the demolition and enabling works and the delivery of Roushill Park, which is already funded, there is already strong commercial interest in the potential Pride Hill development, due to the levels of leisure, cinema and hotel demand and current undersupply in the town.

Phase One of the project focuses on the area around Roushill and Pride Hill, so Raven Meadows car park will remain open throughout this stage of the development.

In the longer term, the emerging masterplan has identified the site of the Raven Meadows Car Park as the best location for parking provision, because it supports the future performance of the Darwin Centre. Feasibility studies will be undertaken to identify whether a refurbishment or replacement of the existing car park would be the best course of action.

Although the current bus station sits within the wider long-term regeneration site for Smithfield Riverside, it does not fall within the Phase One boundary. Therefore, there are no firm plans to refurbish or develop a new bus station at this stage.

Any future plans for the bus station would be subject to extensive public consultation and consultation with bus operators.

Application Two covers outline Plans for three new buildings on the site of the Riverside Shopping Centre.

These plans will outline he maximum scale and massing, and the design principles for any future buildings on the site. Before any construction starts, more detailed plans for each building will need to be submitted and approved.

We expect to submit this application in summer 2024.

Application Three is for a new social destination on the site of the Pride Hill Shopping Centre, possibly including a cinema, hotel, food and drink outlets and shops. There will also be an outdoor podium with meanwhile use space for local small businesses and organisations.

We expect to submit this application in late 2024.

Now that the consultation is closed, we will consider all the feedback we receive before finalising the plans for the next two planning applications.

A final round of public consultation on our phase one plans will take place before the fourth planning application s submitted in 2025.