Camlins lands brief for Quarry conservation plan

A Shrewsbury-based team led by landscape architects Camlins has been appointed to develop a conservation management plan for the Quarry park – one of the town’s best-loved public spaces and a key part of its historic and civic identity.

The plan will help guide the future care, protection and enhancement of the 29-acre park, ensuring the Quarry remains resilient, welcoming and accessible while responding to changing environmental, social and operational needs.

Located in the heart of the town beside the River Severn, The Quarry is widely regarded as one of Shrewsbury’s defining public spaces, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors every year for everything from dog walking to the weekly Park Run and a series of major events that attract visitors from across the UK.

Camlins is leading the consultant team, working alongside property consultancy Berrys and BCHN Architects, with support from Salopian Consultancy, Hightopp Creations and f.r.a.

The appointment brings together expertise in landscape architecture, heritage, planning, arboriculture, ecology, play and wayfinding, with a strong emphasis on local knowledge and collaboration.

Paul Shirley Smith, director at Camlins, said: “The Quarry is one of the great public spaces in Shropshire and a real jewel in Shrewsbury’s crown that has been wonderfully maintained by the council.

“It has huge importance not only as a historic park, but as a place that people use, enjoy and identify with every day. This project is about understanding what makes it special, protecting that character and finding sensitive, practical ways to help it thrive long into the future.

“What is particularly powerful about this team is the depth of local knowledge around the table. We know The Quarry, we know Shrewsbury and we understand the wider conversations already taking place about the future of the town. That gives us a strong foundation for developing a plan that is ambitious, realistic and shaped by the people who care most about this space.”

Councillor Rob Wilson, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said: “The Quarry is one of Shrewsbury’s most important public assets and this Conservation Management Plan will play a vital role in helping us preserve it for future generations. It is encouraging to have such a strong team in place, with genuine local expertise and a clear understanding of both the park’s significance and the expectations the community rightly has for it.

“This will be a collaborative process and we are looking forward to speaking to as many people as possible as the project evolves. We want to make sure the plan reflects not just the heritage of the Quarry but also responds to how people use it today and how it might be used in the future, all underpinned by a commitment to retaining this incredibly special green community space that is an essential part of Shrewsbury’s identity.”