A new report is to be commissioned to help decide the fate of one of Shrewsbury’s most historic buildings, the new Shirehall leader has vowed today.

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said he had asked officers to draw up a fresh report on Rowley’s House following a meeting with Margaret Owen, the woman behind a people-power campaign which prevented its sale.

Councillor Barrow said he expected the document to include detailed costings and options over what to do with the building in the long term.

The 16th century landmark has previously been referred to as Shrewsbury’s “jewel in the crown” and was once considered as a base for the new Shrewsbury Town Council but was rejected after it was revealed it would cost nearly £4 million to bring it up to modern standards.

Rowley’s House is currently being used by the town’s Tourist Information Centre, which is expected to remain there until 2011.

But Councillor Barrow said its long-term future would have to be considered soon.

He said: “A new report will be coming forward and I expect it will have costings and information about the different options available.

“At some point we will have to make a decision on what to do with it. The first person who brought it to my attention was Margaret Owen who came to see me about the issue.”

Mrs Owen, from the Friends of Rowley’s House group, is calling on the council to use the building as a museum for young people in the county.

She originally led a protest against its sale in 2006.