LDA Design has been appointed to help deliver a ‘Big Town Plan’ for Shrewsbury, one of England’s finest county towns.
LDA Design will work alongside three project partners – Shrewsbury BID, Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council – to develop a masterplan that builds on visioning work carried out to date, including public consultation where over 2,500 comments and ideas were collected.
Shrewsbury has long been the commercial centre for Shropshire and mid-Wales. It has a strong independent retail and food offer and has remained a great place to live and work, with almost 70 per cent of residents also working in the town. The ambitious Big Town Plan seeks to build on this robust local economy and high-quality of life, ensuring investment and activity stays in the heart of the town and future-proofing Shrewsbury against changing patterns of shopping, working and living. The Plan aims to make the most of the town’s rich heritage and green spaces, improving transport links and creating a lively, self-sustaining place to be.
Last year, Shropshire Council, in partnership with Town Council and BID Team, embarked upon on a comprehensive conversation with over 50 individuals and organisations from both the public and private sector, ahead of more widespread public consultation, that culminated in a vision backed up by a clear set of priorities and objectives. This includes: creating a place that supports enterprise; improving movement and place; enabling vitality, life and mix; and, nurturing natural Shrewsbury. Above-all, it is about a people-centred town, one that supports wellbeing and good health.
The Big Town Plan now needs to be converted into a masterplan and turned in action, something both transformational and achievable. LDA Design was appointed because of its landscape-led, ‘first life, then spaces, then buildings’ approach and collaborative way of working. They will be supported by Phil Jones Associates on transport.
Bernie Foulkes, Board Director LDA Design commented: “We are really excited to be working on the masterplan for Shrewsbury with the Big Town Plan Team. There is a real sense of momentum on the back of the Big Town Plan and a belief that Shrewsbury can genuinely lead the way for other English county towns, putting people and place first, as the way to attract investment. We look forward to being part of that journey.”
Alan Mosley, Leader of Shrewsbury Town Council says: “Working collaboratively on proposing a Big Town Masterplan makes so much sense. Not only does it help us identify what is needed for our town, but it ensures that we are all working together, alongside residents and all other stakeholders, to make it happen. The Town Council really looks forward to working with our partners and LDA Design on this very exciting project. With short, medium and long term goals we aim to ensure that Shrewsbury becomes an even greater place to live, work, visit and do business.”
Seb Slater, Shrewsbury BID Executive Director comments: “I am delighted that town centre partners have jointly appointed LDA Design to work on the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan. LDA Design will bring great experience of collaboration with local people and partners to the creation of a holistic and bespoke masterplan for Shrewsbury.”
Councillor Nic Laurens, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth at Shropshire Council, said: “Using LDA Design will accelerate the Big Town Plan’s ambition to identify investment potential across Shrewsbury which is key to the economic growth and sustainability of both Shrewsbury and wider Shropshire.”
For more information, please contact Bernie Foulkes or Justine Leach
