Shropshire Star

Housing plans submitted for Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks

Plans to transform Shrewsbury's historic Copthorne Barracks into housing have been submitted to Shropshire Council.

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Copthorne Barracks

Under the proposal, the majority of the barracks, which went on sale in 2014, would be demolished to make way for a residential development of up to 174 homes, 45 retirement apartments, and the conversion of the armoury into residential apartments.

Four public gardens, including the former parade ground, would be created.

In a design and access statement submitted by Corstorphine & Wright Architects, the plans have been drafted with considerations paid to a recent public consultation exercise which was held over the summer and also to the opinions of Shrewsbury Town Council.

In the document, the firm says: "There are opportunities to provide high quality, new homes in an accessible and sustainable location, to respond to key views in to the site and create an historic feature of The Armoury.

"Dwellings will face on to Copthorne Road, reflective of those within the existing street scheme. As the scheme moves towards the west, the dwelling types change to a mix of semi-detached and detached properties.

"An additional public open space assists in the open feeling of this part of the site. To the eastern section of the site an area for retirement living has been proposed.

"It is anticipated the retirement living will have pedestrian links into the rest of the development. The housing to the eastern end is predominately semi-detached and again set around a small open space.

"It is anticipated that the proposed dwellings will reflect local materials and appropriate styles.

"The scheme will be designed to create a safe, secure and welcoming environment that is accessible to all and sustainable."

A heritage statement was prepared on the site by malcolmpaynegroup of Birmingham and said that the majority of the buildings on the site were of little architectural merit.

The report said that the former Officers' Mess 'has been altered to the detriment of the character and appearance of the building'.

It also said that the wholesale refurbishment of the building had removed the majority of internal architectural detail, including the main staircase.

Unlike the Armoury, the building has no relationship with the surrounding streetscape and no landmark quality. The barracks' post office was similarly damaged by unsympathetic works carried out over the years.

It concludes: "In architectural terms, the buildings are not therefore innovative or by a celebrated architect, nor are they representative of an important style or movement.

The plans will now be considered by members of the council's planning committee. A buyer for the site is still to be found.

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