If you are investment planning in Oswestry and surrounding areas, Shropshire Council’s Northern Planning Committee has approved the second stage of Smithfield Riverside, an ambitious regeneration project in Shrewsbury town centre.
The scheme is being billed as the necessary next step in creating a modern and sustainable environment to live or work in. It is being led by Shropshire Council and property developer RivingtonHark, and aims to completely transform the space between the Darwin Centre and the River Severn.
The area can accommodate residential and business use, with homes, offices and a hotel in the mix. The initial phase was signed off in 2024 and the old Riverside shopping centre that stood there has already been torn down. Later this year, construction is due to begin on a new public park called Riverside Gardens.
The next phase involves an ‘outline’ application covering three plots of land adjacent to Raven Meadows and Smithfield Road. This provides more information on the design, scale and intended use of future buildings to ensure suitability and compatibility with Shrewsbury’s distinctive historical character.
The project’s sustainability credentials have already been highlighted by Shropshire Council, RivingtonHark and demolition contractors Cawarden, in a brochure outlining their shared goal of recycling 98% of the old shopping centre’s materials.
In a statement, Shropshire Council said it was ‘delighted’ to have the outline application approved, following a public consultation, adding that it represents a significant milestone in their longer-term efforts to upgrade this section of the town centre. It is hoped Smithfield Riverside will boost economic growth and investment, and attract visitors and jobs alike to Shrewsbury and wider Shropshire.
