Councillors vote to demolish Shirehall pending 'rapid' review of options for Shrewsbury landmark
Councillors have backed a motion to demolish Shropshire Council's former Shrewsbury headquarters - but the move will be subject to a rapid review before final approval.
The vote, taken in a private session of Shropshire Council on Thursday (December 11) looks to have signalled the end for the landmark Shirehall in Abbey Foregate.
The decision came after a fiery debate on the plans, with opposition councillors critical over how the report recommending the move had only been provided 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Calls for a deferral on the decision were ultimately rejected, as the Liberal Democrat administration warned that delay would only add to the costs facing the council, which is in a state of 'financial emergency' and is already seeking tens of millions of pounds from the Government to avoid effective bankruptcy.
The vote backed a motion to demolish the building and create a 'mixed-use' site that could include housing, extra care facilities, new GP medical centres, and commercial space.
The agreement is a departure from the council's previous approved plan for the site, which was to sell it for housing development.
The motion passed with the addition of an agreement to carry out a rapid review of all options for the site in the coming weeks, as requested by the opposition Reform group.
Any alternative recommendation would then have to come back to the council for another decision.
'Heads not hearts'
Councillor Rob Wilson, the Liberal Democrat administration's cabinet member in charge of transport and economic growth introduced the proposal, warning the council needed to use "heads not hearts" to make the decision.
He said: "Shirehall is more than bricks and mortar, it has been the heart of Shropshire Council for decades: a place where council decisions shaping our communities have been made.
"I want to start by saying I have a great deal of sympathy for Shirehall as a building and for what it represents in terms of architecture and our county's history.
"This is not a decision we want to be taking. It is however a decision we must confront honestly.
"The reality is that Shirehall has become increasingly costly to maintain and operate. Annual costs are approaching £400,000 and the building requires significant investment to remain fit for purpose.
"At a time when we face unprecedented financial pressures and the need to protect frontline service and our staff, continuing as we are is not sustainable."
Fellow Lib Dem Councillor Greg Ebbs spoke against any bid to delay a decision, saying: "It is a difficult choice and for those who do want to defer I want to remind those that deferment or abstaining is a decision, and that is a decision which is to accrue more costs for the council until we make a later decision, and given the financial stability of this council I think that is something we all need to take into due consideration."
The council's deputy leader Councillor Alex Wagner was pressed on the reason for the rush to approve the plan.
He responded by outlining two reasons: the ongoing financial costs and the building's existing 'certificate of immunity from listing'.
Its exemption from listing prevents plans for its demolition being scuppered by heritage protections.
Councillor Wagner said: "There are two core reasons. One is pure finance: you know we have a site which is costing us hundreds of thousands of pounds to do nothing with at the moment.
"There has been a lot of talk about the various sources of funding we could have to regenerate it, maybe government levelling up or Homes England. What I think we need to be really clear is, the options at great expense and staff time, we have really extensively tried to go through the houses on this one, up to the last minute.
"The reason for specifically needing to move this now is we have the listing coming up in September 2026, that takes six to nine months to look at and even get an answer on. During that period it is very hard for us to make a decision. If we want to make a decision we can reasonably act on with officers, and time before then, we really have to give an indication now."
'Far too hasty'
Reform's Sundorne Councillor Mandy Duncan said members were not being given enough time or detail to make an informed decision.
She said: "This is far too late and we are really being asked to take a decision under pressure and without the relevant information."
Those views were echoed by her group leader Dawn Husemann, who said: "The administration talk about being open and transparent but in this particular case there has been a disappointing lack of transparency, engagement or involvement.
"The report came too late for members to be able to submit motions in relation to this, therefore I respectfully ask that a rapid task and finish group is established and thorough pre-decision scrutiny is undertaken prior to taking a final decision - the very type of cross-party, pre-decision scrutiny this current administration is championing."
She added: "This decision is too important for the whole of Shropshire and all future administrations to be taken solely by the current Liberal Democrat administration alone."
Labour group leader Councillor Rosemary Dartnall said the move was "far too hasty", adding: "I remind colleagues that in opposition the Liberal Democrats were robustly against the demolition of Shirehall."
She also spoke out on the building's historic significance, saying: "In later years this council, I think, will regret the move to demolish Shirehall which is historically significant whether you like it or not."
Liberal Democrat Councillor Benajamin Jephcott also criticised the lack of time provided to assess the report.
He said: "I was absolutely appalled by the late delivery of this report.
"I don't want to criticise staff because I know we have not got enough staff and they are doing their best, but they had a month to produce it and they didn't produce it until yesterday.
"And members objecting to having to take a decision like this are quite right, I have not been able to read the report in full and so far I have not heard a valid reason why we have to take this decision now."
In response to the concerns Councillor Wagner said it was important that the council set out its stated position for the future of the site.
The meeting heard that if the council were to declare a 114 notice (effective bankruptcy), then government-appointed commissioners would simply push through the approved decision of the council.
Councillor Wagner said that a decision today meant the authority's position would be protected, with plans for a mixed-use site "rather than what people call 'Weir Hill 2'" - referring to the large housing development near to Shirehall.
He added: "Let's be more creative and look at things that increase our revenue and decrease our costs."
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