Whitchurch library to move into former Woolworths shop after danger concrete closed civic centre
Plans to move Whitchurch Library into St Mary's Arcade have been approved.
A change of use application for a unit in St Mary's Arcade in Whitchurch has been approved by Shropshire Council planning officers.
The approval means the retail unit can now be used as a much-needed home for the town's library.
St. Mary’s Arcade, previously a Woolworths store, is now a shopping arcade featuring a variety of retail units.
The library, along with the majority of Whitchurch Civic Centre, was closed in September last year after the discovery of dangerous RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) in the majority of the complex.
A year on, with the exception of the sports/market hall, the centre is still closed while a working group consider whether to undertake repair works or demolish the centre and rebuild it.
For the last year, an interim library service has been operating a pick-up and drop-off service from a stand in the Civic Centre sports hall.
More than 20 potential sites, both from a short-term and medium-term perspective, were considered during the search before the unit in St Mary’s Arcade was identified as a suitable venue.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.