Plans revived to demolish 17th-century Shrewsbury warehouse in hotel move
Controversial plans to demolish one of Shrewsbury's most notable historic buildings and turn it into a hotel have been revived – six years after being first rejected.
Plans are being developed to create a 42-bedroom boutique hotel on the site of The Stew in Frankwell, a former merchants' warehouse dating back to the 17th century.
A planning application is expected to be submitted to Shropshire Council next week by Shropshire couple Gareth and Samantha Leese. But the plans are already being opp-osed by local conservationists, who helped defeat similar proposals for the site in 2007.
At a public meeting at the Guildhall in Shrewsbury last night, local residents and officials from Shrewsbury Civic Society said they would be opposing the new proposals. A statement on the civic society's website said the building, which is currently derelict, should be retained.
"English Heritage, the civic society and many others want to see The Stew retained and restored, and can suggest appropriate uses. It would be so wrong to lose this important part of the town's story," the organisation said.
"Shrewsbury was an important inland port and the trade, using Severn trows, supported its development. The new Guildhall building seeks to reflect this in its echoes of warehouse pulley lofts. We should help disseminate the facts and ask decision-makers to consider the long-term history of the buil-ding's significance to the town and how demolition would be yet another part of our town's heritage lost, especially for Frankwell.
"There was a similar application concerning The Stew that was rightly rejected in 2007. In a conservation area, very careful consideration must be given to any building of heritage significance and The Stew is significant, despite missing out on listed status."
The previous scheme for a 25-bedroom hotel was initially given the go-ahead by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. But the decision was reversed after a report in support of the demolition which stated the building was beyond repair was withdrawn.
No-one from the developers was available for comment today.
