Riverside Gardens, the new Government-grant-funded park at the heart of Shrewsbury’s long-term regeneration plans, is set to open in December [2026].

Riverside Gardens is the first phase of Shropshire Council’s Smithfield Riverside programme, which is set to transform the area between the River Severn and The Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury town centre.

Work is to be carried out over five weekdays, starting on Friday 5 June [2026], to improve Frankwell footbridge in Shrewsbury, ahead of the construction of the new landing/stairway area into the new Riverside Gardens park.

The work – which is likely to be noisy – will be carried out on the Smithfield Road side of the bridge, near to the sloping ramp down to street level. The work is taking place between 8am and 5.30pm each day  and the bridge will remain  fully open during the work. The bridge is safe but the contractor is advising people to pass quickly over it during the work.

A significant chapter in Shrewsbury’s story, the Riverside Shopping Centre was widely advertised as “the only shopping in the town with mass car parking”, and for decades it served as a hub for everyday shopping, meeting friends and enjoying Shrewsbury’s nightlife.

Work to demolish the Frankwell Bridge steps in Shrewsbury started on Monday (3 November 2025). 

For the past week, people venturing over the bridge towards the Smithfield Riverside development have been turning left instead of right down a new temporary ramp.

Morgan Sindall Construction has started work on site to deliver Riverside Gardens, Shrewsbury town centre’s new public park, following its appointment as delivery partner for the flagship regeneration project.

The second phase of the Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury took a significant step forward today, with an outline planning application approved by Shropshire Council’s Northern Planning Committee.

Riverside Gardens: pictured from left to right is Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Deputy Leader, Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Leader, Seb Slater, executive director of Shrewsbury BID and Claire Evans, Shropshire Council’s senior programme officer.

Shropshire Council, alongside development partners RivingtonHark and demolition specialists Cawarden, have published a brochure showcasing how the different types of material from the former Riverside shopping centre will be recycled – with the goal of recycling 98% of the materials used in the old shopping centre.

Shropshire Council’s Smithfield Riverside project is progressing to its next exciting phase.

The second planning application for Shropshire Council’s Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury has been submitted.

Shropshire Council have asked Salopians to submit their suggestions for the name of Roushill’s new park, ahead of construction beginning in early 2025. The public are encouraged to submit their suggestions before the end of November to be considered.

Large Equipment has been seen arriving in Shrewsbury town centre ahead of the crushing of concrete slabs and foundations across the Smithfield Riverside site, as the final phase of heavy demolition begins on Roushill.

Shropshire Council and demolition contractors Cawarden have announced the temporary closure of a section of Raven Meadows next week to allow for the removal of two footbridges: the bridges linking the former Riverside Shopping Centre to the multi-storey car park and to the former Pride Hill Shopping Centre, near Roushill.

Shropshire Council’s plans to transform the Smithfield Riverside area of Shrewsbury town centre have taken a major step forward with the appointment of specialist demolition company, Cawarden.

Shropshire Council’s Planning Committee has voted to approve the first stage of the Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury, enabling the delivery of a landmark new public park.

The next stage of public consultation on Shrewsbury’s Smithfield Riverside regeneration project gets underway today, ahead of two impending planning applications.

Following weeks of public consultation this autumn, the first in a series of planning applications for the Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury is now submitted.

More than 350 people attended drop-in events last week, as part of a four-week public consultation on the Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury town centre.

A four-week public consultation gets underway today on the Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury town centre.

Shropshire Council is set to approve the next stage of the Smithfield Riverside project next week, as it looks to drive forward the regeneration of Shrewsbury town centre and capitalise on its recent Levelling Up funding win.