Redevelopment of the Dana Prison in Shrewsbury to be finished in four years

Trevor Osborne, chairman of the Osborne Group which has bought the building for a seven-figure sum, told a meeting of Shrewsbury Town Council he was was excited about the prospect of a university being established in the town and that he would be willing to discuss the Dana becoming part of the university plans.

He said there are currently no firm plans for the building's future, but promised to hold an open day to give people living in the town the chance to put forward their ideas.

Mr Osborne said: "I am pleased the university is interested in establishing a campus here. Cities and towns with student populations are economically more viable.

A community centre, a bar, a gym or an ice rink. The people of Shrewsbury certainly aren't short of ideas when it comes to how the former Dana prison should be used.

Judith Williams, 63, of Darwin Street, said she had enjoyed a visit to the Malmaison Hotel created by the Osborne group at the former prison in Oxford. But the former mayor of Shrewsbury said she did not think a luxury hotel was right for the Dana.

She said: "What I would really like to see is a community facility for young people in Shrewsbury like a properly managed youth club, which can be used during the day by the over-60s. There's a shortage of facilities in the town from young people, particularly those out of work."

Benjy Hill, 20, a bartender at The Albert Lounge Bar on Smithfield Road, said: "It should be a bar. We need more bars at this end of town that support what we do here like using local produce."

Kerry Owen, 30, of Sutton Road, who works for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said she would like to see a new gym and spa at the former jail.

She said: "It's a really impressive building so I think if they make flats and offices there they should be really stunning. I also think it would be a good place for a decent gym, because the best ones in Shrewsbury are out of town and quite expensive."

Jaike Page, 24, a bartender at Blind Tiger on Hill's Lane, said: "I think it should be an ice rink because I love ice skating and I feel we need one in Shrewsbury."

Kathy Lesser, marketing manager at Alan Ward, said: "If it was turned into a hotel it would certainly increase visitors numbers to Shrewsbury. It is in a central location so it is imperative that it is attractive and is certainly transformed as soon as possible.

"If we can bring this part of Shrewsbury, important because of its history and what it represented, back to life with your help then I am up for it and am looking forward to working with you all.

"It is a great town, the future looks good with the prospect of a university being here, the improvements to the railway station, things are looking pretty good. I do not see many empty shops, it feels like it is a town that is expanding."

He added: "The challenge now is it is not needed as a jail anymore, it is needed as something else.

"I am not able to say what that will be. We have to do a lot more studying yet and one of the things I can ask you is that when you come up and look at it I am going to call another meeting saying what should be kept and what use should it have."

More than 40 members of the public attended last night's meeting and Mr Osborne told them he would be looking to discuss plans for the building with the people of Shrewsbury.

He said: "It is a very interesting location – close to the river, which is always a good thing – not only that it is also close to the railway station. Your MP telephoned me a day or two ago to tell me he was pleased there are plans to improve the railway station further and whether I could explain to him what I am going to do with the Dana. I said when I know I will come to explain it.

"This evening for me is a first opportunity to make a meaningful beginning in understanding Shrewsbury, understanding and trying to find out what aspirations you have for the Dana.

"I bet most of you have never been in there and those that have probably do not want to talk about it. So I thought as we have done previously with projects, if I arranged a day where you can come, walk through and look at it, would you like to do that? That is my first undertaking to you, to do just that."

With regards to timescale for the project Mr Osborne said he hoped to have a plan later in the year and expected the project to be concluded within four years.

He said: "I think that the whole of this year will be taken up with considering what to do and making applications to get consent, then another six months to go out to tender, then another two years for construction – so you are looking at about four years."

The Osborne Group converted a former prison in Oxford into luxury flats which form part of the Malmaison Hotel.

The Dana dates back to 1793 but closed in spring 2013 as part of a Government programme to shut ageing and expensive jails. It was put up for sale in February last year and attracted several bids, including one from nightclub owner Martin Monahan, who runs The Buttermarket nearby.

Possible uses suggested for the site include a restaurant, offices or studio flats.