Shrewsbury among first towns to test new independent high street health check

News from our partners: Shrewsbury BID

Shrewsbury has become one of the first ten towns in the UK to take part in a new independent assessment of town centre health, acting as a test case for The High Street Consultancy’s HAPPS diagnostic.

Shrewsbury BID invited Ben Stephenson and Matt Colledge, partners in the High Street Consultancy, to assess the town centre in August 2026. The assessment was given free as charge as part of the pilot programme.

The HAPPS model measures a town against 25 factors identified by the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University as having the biggest influence on a high street’s vitality and viability. These are grouped into five themes: High Street Vision, Activation, Place Brand, Partnerships and Governance, and Sustainable Environments.

Over two days, the assessors walked the town centre, reviewed local plans and interviewed key partners. Shrewsbury scored 4 or 5 out of 5 on 80% of the factors. It received top marks for appearance, walkability, attractiveness, retail offer, everyday amenities, vision and strategy, and the balance between independent and national businesses.

The report describes a town centre that is well cared for and free of litter and graffiti, with high standards maintained at its edges as well as its core. The assessors pointed to the number and quality of independent traders, the floral displays and public art, among other features.

Councillor Rob Wilson, Shropshire Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said:

“Town centres are where people meet, shop, work and do business, and Shrewsbury does that better than most. It’s encouraging to have that recognised independently, but we can’t rest on our laurels. This report supports the work we’re developing to make it easier for people to get into and around the town centre, and we’ll keep working with Shrewsbury BID and our partners to build on these strengths.”

Seb Slater, Executive Director of Shrewsbury BID, said:

“Scoring 4 or 5 on 80% of the factors gives us a clear, independent picture of where Shrewsbury stands. We work in the town centre every day, so it’s genuinely useful to have people with national experience and fresh eyes walk the streets and test our assumptions.”

The report set out five priorities for the town’s next stage:

• Developing the place brand around clear goals and measures of success
• Involving more community, creative and voluntary groups in shaping the town’s future
• Building on the success of the weekend High Street closure to improve how people move around the centre
• Making more of Shrewsbury Market Hall, including evening use and opportunities for new traders
• Planning for managed growth that protects the town’s heritage and quality of life

Slater added:

“Not all of the findings will be a surprise to our members. Many of the priorities identified in the report are matters businesses have been raising with us for some time – but having them set out independently provides evidence to support conversations with partners about what comes next. Shrewsbury is in a strong position, but we know the town can’t stand still and we and our partners must take a clear-headed approach to keeping the town centre vital and attractive to locals, visitors and the businesses who invest here.”

The High Street Consultancy’s Ben Stephenson said:

“We were pleased to note that our independent HAPPS assessment confirms that as a town, Shrewsbury is performing strongly. Analysis across the key 25 factors that effects a towns viability and vitality resulted in 80% of the factors scoring highly or very highly. Underpinning this is a clear range of strategic and operational delivery plans evidencing good town centre leadership and management. Clearly the town has a strong foundation to build on, with its rich heritage, thriving independent businesses, vibrant cultural scene and popular market setting it apart.

“We believe the town is well placed to seize new opportunities for growth. The key choice is whether to remain primarily a successful regional centre or seek to become a nationally recognised destination. If growth is pursued, it should be managed carefully to strengthen the economy, improve connectivity and create opportunities while protecting what makes Shrewsbury unique.”

Shrewsbury BID has shared the findings with partners in Shrewsbury Town Council, Shropshire Council, and the Big Town Plan Partnership, and is using them to inform its work over the coming year.