First glimpse at new accommodation for Shrewsbury's new university students
This is how Shrewsbury's new university accommodation will look under plans to transform a former county court building.
Mardol House, at the top of Mardol and between Shoplatch and Claremont Street, could be transformed into nine self-catering flats with five or six en-suite bedrooms for 49 students and studio apartments for another 36 students.
The development would transform the empty office block, which adjoins the Market Hall, with four of the studio apartments adapted for students with disabilities.
Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said Mardol House is an ideal location for the development.
He said: "We think Mardol House offers an ideal opportunity in the ideal location for student living accommodation.
"It is close to the main teaching buildings at Guildhall and Rowley's House, and housing students there will provide a huge boost to the Shrewsbury economy, as students will be able to easily visit the many shops, cafes, bars, clubs and other attractions in the town centre."
The council, which owns the freehold, has submitted an application to convert part of the building into living quarters for the new University Centre Shrewsbury.
The halls would be managed in accordance with the Universities UK student accommodation Code of Practice. The University Centre Shrewsbury would provide around-the-clock security and reception for the 41 weeks a year of the students' residential contract.
Meanwhile, the conversion of Shrewsbury's Guildhall into university teaching buildings is to be finished by April.
Rowley's House has already been refurbished to be used as a reception area and there are already postgraduate courses taking place in the building.
Work has taken place to transform the rooms into spaces for teaching, events and to provide an information point for people to drop in and find out more about the university centre.
