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Shoppers welcome Shrewsbury Riverside plans
Tuesday 19th July 2011, 4:10PM BST.
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Almost 90 per cent of Shrewsbury shoppers are in favour of plans to create a new £150 million shopping complex in the centre of the town, a new study has claimed.
Proposals for the redevelopment of the Pride Hill, Darwin and Riverside centres were displayed at a public exhibition for three days last week, with visitors asked to fill out feedback forms.
According to the team of developers behind the plans, they received strong public backing for their proposals, which would see the Riverside centre knocked down and rebuilt and the other two centres refurbished. A spokesman for the group – made up of Ignis Asset Management and Shearer Property Group – said about 1,500 people had visited the exhibition in the Darwin Centre, with 600 feedback forms returned.
Almost 90 per cent of those who completed the forms said they were “strongly in favour” or “in favour” of the proposals for the New Riverside development, while fewer than three per cent said they opposed the scheme.
Guy Shearer, of Shearer Property Group, said: “The public response to the exhibition has been fantastic and we are delighted that the vast majority – nine out of ten people – are in favour of the proposals.
“New Riverside with a full line department store and 60 new major shops and restaurants will transform Shrewsbury’s profile as a shopping destination.”
If the proposals are approved by Shropshire Council, construction would begin in 2013, with developers hoping the complex would open in autumn 2015.
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It just goes to show that in spite of all the whiners and moaners who comment on here most of the residents are actually in favour. It think it’s great to see the Riverside eyesore be redeveloped and bring new investment into the town.
The name ‘New Riverside’ needs a re-think – how about the ‘Evolution Shopping Centre’ to link with Charles Darwin? Maybe we can now focus on refining the plans through the extended two week consultation to ensure they are best for the town and its residents.
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The spin and claptrap of these developers has obviously paid off. Again it’s another shortsighted move in overdeveloping Shrewsbury. Fill the units you have before building another ugly concrete box!
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Good news! I hope people were as critical of the designs as they could be, in that the developers can make improvements considered to be important to residents and shoppers.
@Iron Flag, if you’d viewed the plans and spoken to the development team, you’d have realised that a complete reconfiguration of both existing centres is taking place. If your only concern is of empty units, you would have been reassured that in spending £64 on the initial purchase and £150m on the redevelopment, they’ve done their homework. At least somewhat more than you have.
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Ha, £64 million obviously.
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Homework done Steven, just in quarters where it will matter. Glad you enjoyed spending time chatting with the developers and swallowing what they told you.
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like to see these people and the name sucks no new ideas lets just build build keep jobs in shrewsbury. it will look good on paper but look rubbish in end all the shops will be closed and more charity shops with high end fittings. spent a fourtune getting planning now they look red faced when dont go through so they got to make it go or they all lose there bonuses.
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The existing malls are a tired embarrassment to S’bury. If the plans are going ahead the way forward is to constructively engage with the developers.
Kat
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Riverside sounds very downmarket. Thin US hospital for people who haven’t medical insurance. What about sticking with the name of S’bury’s most famous son – Darwin
Kat
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