Fresh design for Shrewsbury university halls approved

Members of Shropshire Council's Central Planning Committee have agreed the new design for the halls, described as a "big improvement", which are planned for the former Tannery site at Barker Street, Shrewsbury.

The building will be opposite the town's historic Rowley's House Mansion, and within part of the Shrewsbury Conservation Area.

The original designs had been criticised as ill-fitting for the area, with planning committee members agreeing to defer the application last month for fresh designs from the architects.

New plans have now been approved, which include two pitched roofs for each block, as opposed to the previously proposed flat roofs.

The development will be made up of two blocks, joined by an in-fill section which will house retail premises.

Yesterday the committee approved the discharge of a condition on a previous planning permission granted for the project, which was first approved in 2015.

The change of the condition means that 'block C' of the project has now been approved.

A further application will be required for full approval of the in-fill section and 'block B' before the project has full consent.

Committee member, Councillor Alexander Phillips, said he supported the new plans.

He said: "It is a big improvement on what was there beforehand and shows what we as a committee can to to change things for the better when we have some backbone.

Council head of planning Ian Kilby said the new design would be more fitting for the area.

He said: "You can see how it knits in more coherently with the townscape that is part of the town conservation area."

Shrewsbury Town Council had withdrawn its opposition to the application in light of the re-design.

A submission from the council said: "The town clerk and a couple of members of the planning committee met with the architect to look at the redesign.

"As a result the town council is supportive of the new designs and commends the architect for his interpretation of the local vernacular reflected in the new design."

However, speaking at the committee hearing Jeremy Cragg of Shrewsbury Civic Society said they were still not satisfied with the proposal, and felt the public had too little time to voice their own opinions.

He said: "We recognise the hard work of the architect, officials, and the changes made. We accept the pitched roofs are an improvement but we need to remind ourselves that this is of huge importance to the area."

Mr Cragg said that the desire to support the University Centre Shrewsbury project did not mean that the scheme "could and should not be improved upon".