Boost for survival hopes for ‘iconic’ Shrewsbury Shirehall

Shropshire Council says it will take a fresh look at plans to demolish its former headquarters for housing, with proposals to save at least part of the building due to come before full council next month.

The authority announced its intention to move out of Shirehall in 2022, saying the building was now too big for the council’s shrinking workforce and too expensive to maintain, eventually quitting the Abbey Foregate site for the smaller Guildhall in Shrewsbury town centre last year.

The Ralph Crowe-designed civic centre and office block was described as the county’s “major monument to post-war modernism” after it opened in 1967, but Shropshire Council say a lack of ongoing maintenance has left them with a £20m repair bill to bring the building back up to standard – a figure disputed by campaigners working to save the building.

The ten-acre site, around a mile from Shrewsbury’s historic town centre, was widely expected to be brought forward for housing development following its eventual decommissioning.

Now, the incoming Liberal Democrat administration says it hopes to retain at least part of the building – possibly including the statement Portland Stone clad council chamber – but admitted the cash-strapped authority will have to make a decision sooner rather than later due to the ongoing cost of maintaining it.

The future of Shrewsbury’s vacant Shirehall could be decided next month. Credit: Place Midlands

“We need to look at it deeply, and we will be. We want to do that in conjunction with the public and residents of Shropshire to try to keep… what many others say is an iconic building in full or in part,” said council finance portfolio holder Cllr Roger Evans, addressing a cabinet meeting on 19 November.

“Shirehall has had very little money spent on it in recent times, some say it’s no longer fit for the purpose it was built for. Parts get cold, other parts get hold – even rooms next door to each other vary in temperature. Ask any employee what their working conditions are like and the vast majority will agree.

“To bring Shirehall up to the level workers have a right to expect will cost a lot of money, will need a lot of work and consequently a lot of carbon will be generated in carrying out this work. Do we have the money to do this? Sadly, no.”

In a statement issued in June, Evans said the new administration said it was “re-examining” a decision by the previous Conservative council to demolish Shirehall and sell it off for housing, which was originally planned to take place by April, prior to the local elections held this year.

Now, reports requested as part of that process are back with the authority, with a possible decision on the future of what could be Shrewsbury’s largest brownfield regeneration site expected in December.

“It was a council decision  [to demolish the building], and only a council decision can alter it,” added Cllr Evans.

“We would like to retain the council chamber and some of the associated buildings, but we do need to take account of the cost both in cash terms and net zero terms.

“I would hope it’s sooner rather than later to make a decision on the Shirehall. I want to keep it as much as we can afford, both environmentally and cash-wise. Whether we can or not will depend, because the council is strapped for cash and we need to get returns.”