Decision due on university use for Shrewsbury buildings
A decision on plans to convert former council offices and an old museum into buildings for Shrewsbury's new university is due to be made in the next few days.
The proposals for The Guildhall and Rowley's House Museum have both been recommended for approval by Shropshire Council's planning officers.
The Guildhall, which lies on the banks of the River Severn, will be the main base for lectures from September, while Rowley's House on Barker Street will be an administration and teaching centre.
University Centre Shrewsbury is being established by the University of Chester and Shropshire Council after research showed there was strong demand for an interest in a new institution to serve the needs of the county.
The applications will be discussed by the council's central planning committee at Shirehall on Thursday.
Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council are both based at the Guildhall but most of Shropshire Council's workers and services have already moved out.
A report prepared by planning officers at Shropshire Council said: "It is considered that the proposed use of the Guildhall for non-residential education use is acceptable in principle in this sustainable location and future occupiers would not be at risk from a flood event.
"The proposal includes no alterations to the building and would therefore have no adverse impact on the appearance of the building or local amenity."
The plans for Rowley's House are a change of use application only and will not include any works that will alter the building. The proposal also doesn't increase the current size of the building.
A report prepared by planning officers at Shropshire Council said: "It is considered that the proposed use of Rowley's House for education and administrative purposes is acceptable in principle in this sustainable location within Shrewsbury town centre.
"The proposal includes no alterations to the building and would therefore have no adverse impact on the appearance of the building or local amenity."
Shropshire Council and the University of Chester are working together to deliver the new university, which they say will be "unique, distinctive and will develop Shropshire's economy whilst also having significant national and international relevance".
The overall design principle is to initially create an education quarter in and around Frankwell, making use of existing council physical assets as part of the teaching, research and learning support.
It has already been confirmed that 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.
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.
Thursday's meeting will start at 2pm.
