Owner ‘to blame’ for crumbling Bridgnorth market hall as council considers enforcement options

Shropshire Council said it is reviewing enforcement action against the owner of a crumbling Bridgnorth building after years of deterioration.

The Grade II‑listed New Market Building in Bridgnorth has fallen into disrepair following what Shropshire Council and Bridgnorth Town Council describe as a “long‑term failure” by its private owner to maintain the building or progress plans to convert it into a hotel.

Built between 1855 and 1859 in the Italianate style, the historic building was originally intended to serve at the town’s indoor market, but this proved unsuccessful, and it subsequently had numerous uses over the years.

But the building has fallen into a state of disrepair after a scheme approved in 2014 to turn it into a hotel never materialised.

Recently, the preservation charity, the Victorian Society, added it to their Top 10 most endangered buildings for 2026.

Now, a joint statement from Shropshire Council and Bridgnorth Town Council aimed to “make it clear” that the responsibility for the building’s current condition “rests squarely with the current private owner”.

The statement continued: “[The owner] has now demonstrated long-term failure to repair and maintain it or to progress their scheme to convert it to a hotel.

“Repairing and finding new uses for this important historic building requires sustained commitment and significant investment, and will therefore take time.

“However, Shropshire Council and Bridgnorth Town Council recognise that regenerating this building has the potential to boost the local economy and revitalise the wider town centre.

“As a result, both councils are prepared to work together with local campaigners, Historic England, the Victorian Society and others to find a better future for it.

“To this end, and with the assistance of some initial Heritage at Risk grant funding from Historic England, Shropshire Council is currently reviewing what planning enforcement options are available to it.”

Shropshire Council stated that its building control team continues to monitor the safety of the building, adding that a recent visit on May 5 did not find it to be dangerous.

David Walker, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for planning, said: “The New Market Building has been a problem building in Bridgnorth town centre for many years and its current dilapidated condition is detrimentally affecting the wider High Street.

“The private owner has an extended track record of failing to properly care for this important historic building.

“Whilst this will be a long-term endeavour and public funding is very scarce, Shropshire Council is engaging with Bridgnorth Town Council and all interested stakeholders to try to resolve this situation.”

Peter Husemann, Shropshire Councillor for Bridgnorth Castle Division, added: “If we all work together on this I’m hopeful that with real collaboration, determination and some creativity will deliver a good outcome for the people of Bridgnorth.

“It would be great to see this beautiful old building given a new lease of life and it would really help to reinvigorate that end of the High Street.”