Whitchurch Civic Centre to go up for sale as cash-strapped Shropshire Council admits defeat

Shropshire Council is set to put Whitchurch Civic Centre up for sale after admitting defeat over the cost needed to fix the building.

The centre - apart from the sports and market hall - has been closed since the discovery of danger reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) back in 2023.

Now the council’s cabinet is expected to agree a motion over the building’s future at its meeting next Wednesday (September 9).

The motion would agree to market the building for sale.

As part of the process the council said it is committed to inviting local community groups to put forward their suggestions for the future of the building.

The council said £4 million is needed to restore the building for safe use.

It added that the estimate includes £500,000 to £600,000 of urgent and essential work - and approximately £50,000 of interventions required within three to six months.

The council, which is in the midst of a well-documented financial crisis, said it cannot afford to borrow money for the work, leaving it with no option but to consider marketing the site for sale.

The council has borrowed nearly £200m from the Government to cover gaps in its budget over the next two years.

An independent report conducted as a condition of that loan agreement said the council needed a more robust approach to selling off assets.

It has already agreed to sell its former Shirehall base in Shrewsbury after rejecting the idea of borrowing to fund the redevelopment of the site.

Now the council is set to move ahead with agreeing to market the civic centre as well.

A statement from the council said: “The civic centre has been closed since September 2023 - except for the sports/market hall - after specialist engineers found that RAAC concrete exists across the majority of the complex, and that it has major structural issues.

“Although placed in the council’s capital programme in 2024 under the council’s previous administration no money was allocated to carry out the work. Since then Shropshire Council has been looking at options, costs and sources of funding for repairing or rebuilding the centre.

“Surveys carried out this year confirm continuing RAAC deterioration and wider concerns and due to its known financial position Shropshire Council is not able to fund the capital works required to make the building safe, compliant and suitable for reoccupation.”

Ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting, Roger Evans, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for finance, said “no money is available” to fix the site.

He said: “Whitchurch Civic Centre and library has long supported civic, community, cultural, library, market and town-centre activity, and we recognise its importance to residents and businesses in Whitchurch and the surrounding area.

“We’ve worked hard to identify sources of funding that could be used to rebuild or repair the centre, working closely with the town council and local community. I also want to thank Helen Morgan MP for her efforts. Sadly, due to the council’s financial emergency, receipt of exceptional financial support, and best value notice, and to the lack of external funding, no money is available.

“Unlike schools and NHS organisations, local authorities have not received any dedicated government funding to support RAAC remediation. This has placed the council in the difficult position of having to address a significant safety and infrastructure challenge from its own already stretched resources.

“We’re therefore proposing to put the building on the market, with potential buyers then able to develop the building and site. This does not disregard the community importance of the building and as part of the process the local community would also have the opportunity to propose what they think the future of Whitchurch Civic Centre could be.”

The statement from the council added: “If the recommendation to cabinet is agreed officers would carry out a managed disposal process, supported by appropriate valuation, legal, planning, title and technical due diligence.

“The final disposal route may include a freehold sale, long leasehold disposal, conditional disposal, development agreement or another structure that balances best consideration, risk, control, deliverability and community outcomes.

“Council officers would continue assessing viable community-led regeneration proposals, including a community asset transfer. Engagement with local councillors, Whitchurch Town Council, North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan and community representatives will continue.”