Battle looms over Shrewsbury boathouse replacement plan

Plans to replace a boathouse on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury with a contemporary building are facing opposition from residents who claim the development is not "iconic" enough.

Designs submitted by Shrewsbury School would see the smaller of its two boathouses replaced in the grounds near Kingsland Bridge.

Further plans would see the construction of a large, new training room for rowers.

But members of the planning group of Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents' Association have circulated a report about the proposals with a list of improvements for other members to comment on.

It says: "We fully appreciate the need for the extra volume of indoor provision for the Shrewsbury School's rowing facility, but we have concerns on several aspects.

"This proposal is not iconic in the sense of making an important statement and in particular it does not appear to represent anything specific that is 21st century but, most importantly, the shape of the necessary bulk and the exterior appearance does not fit in the row of the buildings that are to remain."

Calls were also made for pitched roofs and bricks which matched the adjacent buildings.

Shrewsbury Schoolis one of the country's leading schools in the sport of rowing, having won national competitions and many regional regattas.

Roger Cray, chairman of Shrewsbury Civic Society's planning committee, said the proposals would go under the microscope at a meeting on Monday. Money has been raised for the project through The Shrewsbury School Foundation.

Development director John Rolfe said the existing boathouse is in a very poor structural condition and in urgent need of remedial works.