Battle looms over Shrewsbury boathouse replacement plan
Wednesday 5th January 2011, 2:17PM GMT.
Plans to replace a boathouse on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury with a contemporary building are facing opposition from residents who claim the development is not “iconic” enough.
Designs submitted by Shrewsbury School would see the smaller of its two boathouses replaced in the grounds near Kingsland Bridge.
Further plans would see the construction of a large, new training room for rowers.
But members of the planning group of Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association have circulated a report about the proposals with a list of improvements for other members to comment on.
It says: “We fully appreciate the need for the extra volume of indoor provision for the Shrewsbury School’s rowing facility, but we have concerns on several aspects.
“This proposal is not iconic in the sense of making an important statement and in particular it does not appear to represent anything specific that is 21st century but, most importantly, the shape of the necessary bulk and the exterior appearance does not fit in the row of the buildings that are to remain.”
Calls were also made for pitched roofs and bricks which matched the adjacent buildings.
Shrewsbury Schoolis one of the country’s leading schools in the sport of rowing, having won national competitions and many regional regattas.
Roger Cray, chairman of Shrewsbury Civic Society’s planning committee, said the proposals would go under the microscope at a meeting on Monday. Money has been raised for the project through The Shrewsbury School Foundation.
Development director John Rolfe said the existing boathouse is in a very poor structural condition and in urgent need of remedial works.
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It looks more iconic than some of the new houses downstream.It’s a boathouse not a statue.
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How about a 200 foot concrete oar sticking out of the roof – surely that would be iconic enough for them?
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I thought that we had heard the last of the dreadful TCRA.
If I understand correctly, they are complaining that the proposed building is both not sufficiently modern, and too unlike the existing structures.
To me the image seems fine. Good luck to the school, and don;t let the small number of small minded ancient TCRA members put you off.
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When did the TCRA become the council’s architectural review committee and icon approval board?
If the plans are acceptable to the council and pass all planning requirements tell the TCRA where to stick it.
Do all building plans now have to pass an iconic test to keep TCRA happy? As the infiltrator said, it’s a boat house.
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To Old Salopian: very good time to post your message!
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Just when you thought the TCRA had learnt their lesson, they go and stick their unwanted noses in to another town project.
When will they ever learn that their opinions are no longer welcome by the majority of residents.
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Looks great, the views from the glazing on the front upper floor will be terrific.
One small quibble is that the people at the front of the picture are not wearing Victorian swimming wear and straw boaters. Can this be a condition?
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The computer generated image looks fine to me – if the proposed building actually matches the image then I don’t see what the problem is.
There are far too many “iconic” 21st century buildings which stick out like a sore thumb and are just ugly blots on the landscape.
What is wrong with a new set of buildings which look largely like the old ones they are replacing and fit into the background?
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Its just the stcra at their usual tricks again.
If it were my property I would deliberately build a concrete monstrosity to teach them a lesson…
who do they think they are?
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