The second phase of the Smithfield Riverside regeneration project in Shrewsbury has taken a significant step forward, with an outline planning application being approved by Shropshire Council’s Northern Planning Committee.

RivingtonHark, acting as Development Manager for Shropshire Council, has managed the planning preparation and subsequent approval for Smithfield Riverside, the ambitious regeneration project set to transform the area between the River Severn and the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury town centre.

The first phase of the project, which capitalises on Levelling Up funds secured from UK Government, was approved in 2024 and work is well underway. The former Riverside shopping centre has now been demolished, paving the way for ‘Riverside Gardens’ – a new public park on Roushill, which is due to start on site in early summer.

This second planning application, is an ‘outline’ application and secures the principle of development for three key plots located between Smithfield Road, Raven Meadows and the new park. It sets out the key design, scale and use recommendations of future buildings, helping to shape how the area will be developed over time, while respecting Shrewsbury’s historic character.

The site is expected to support a complementary mix of homes, offices and a hotel, with further detailed planning applications coming forward for each development in the future.

The permission is another milestone in the long-term plans to transform this area of the town centre and provides a clear framework to help unlock exciting next phases of development, helping the Council to attract investment for the long-term sustainable future of Smithfield Riverside

Congratulations must also go to our hard-working professional team – Faulkner Brown, Space Hub, ARUP and BNP Paribas, Turley, Waterman, EDP, Counter Context