Walled garden idea for Shrewsbury's Dana revealed

Trevor Osborne, chairman of the Osborne Property Group, which bought the prison last year, said he intends to submit an outline planning application for a "mixed use site" within the next few months.

Mr Osborne still intends to convert the cell blocks into student accommodation, while the rest of the site will be made up of other accommodation, and potentially a gymnasium.

However, for the first time Mr Osborne has revealed his concept for the site as "Shrewsbury's Walled Garden".

He said: "At the moment when you come into the prison and through the security there is a feeling of coming into a prison, a feeling of despondency and gloom, but that belies the fact the buildings are actually very attractive.

"There are some wonderful historic buildings, so think about it, the high prison walls which stop you looking out and make it feel introverted, could be changed. If you make another comparison, Many of the best gardens in the country are walled gardens.

"What we are introducing is the idea this would not be 'The Dana Prison' but 'The Dana, Shrewsbury's Walled Garden'."

Mr Osborne said that due to security, buildings were not placed next to the prison walls. He said the concept would be to remove the outbuildings to create a walkway around the perimeter which could be gravelled and used for plants and flowers.

He said: "With the asphalt replaced by a gravel path it would be be a stroll which would take potentially 20 minutes or so to go around the perimeter of Shrewsbury's Walled Garden.

"We would take out some of the buildings and create options. You would make space which would be planted with gardens."

Mr Osborne said he would be looking to speak to Shropshire Horticultural Society – the organisers of Shrewsbury Flower Show – for their advice on the plan.

He said: "Shrewsbury has a very fine flower show organised by the horticultural society so I am quite keen to talk to them and say 'what do you think of my concept for Shrewsbury's Walled Garden' in the middle of which are historic buildings we can put to some really interesting uses which may or may not involve students.

"There could be other types of residential use. There is a wonderful gymnasium,

"The uses have to be compatible and we are very keen to continue the concept of mixed use. We don't think it should be just for university students, just for housing, just for recreation and leisure. We think it should be a place where all these things can combine to be a quarter of the town."

Mr Osborne said that the project could be completed within two years of planning consent being granted but that it would "merit discussion so won't be decided immediately".

He said: "From getting planning consent we could be 15 months from having accommodation to occupy and two years to finish it."