Opportunity for firms to support Shrewsbury Riverside development work

Shropshire Council has published a tender inviting companies to bid to support the development of Shrewsbury’s Riverside area.

Smithfield Road

Shropshire Council took the decision to purchase Shrewsbury’s three main shopping centres in December 2017 with the primary objective to support the economic growth and redevelopment of Shrewsbury town centre. The council is now taking forward a Strategic Development Framework (SDF) for the redevelopment of the Riverside shopping centre and surrounding Shropshire Council land and asset ownership (known as the Riverside Development Area).

Shropshire Council has now appointed a multi-skilled team – LDA Design – to produce a Strategic Development Framework (SDF) for the area. The current tender is to secure additional expertise and support to work with council officers to deliver the SDF and provide wider commercial estates and economic project advice.

Shropshire Council will also start preparing the site for a phased demolition which it hopes will begin at the end of 2020, by which time the council should be clear on its preferred delivery strategy for the Riverside area. We will fully engage with Riverside Centre tenants as our plans develop and, once ready, the programme for the demolition will be first shared with the Riverside tenants. We want to stress that until work begins the Riverside Shopping Centre will remain open for business as usual.

The Riverside development work will be closely aligned with the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan (BTP) and is an important element of delivering the key ambitions and themes within the BTP. This is an opportunity to shape the future of this important area of the town, enhancing the river frontage and creating a sustainable and vibrant town centre.

The Riverside Development Area (RDA) covers approximately 9.5 acres and includes the Riverside Shopping Centre, medical practice, Raven Meadows multi-storey car park, Shrewsbury bus station, the bus layover site, Raven Meadows, Smithfield Road and the river frontage.

The SDF that will guide development in the area in terms of indicative development plots and infrastructure to support and shape the future of this area of the town.