Lead member – Councillor Dean Carroll - Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing

Report of Mark Barrow – Executive Director of Place

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council to:

3.1.     Approve the acceptance of the Levelling Up Fund Grant award from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), and instruct officers to progress the associated projects.

3.2.     Approve financing of the Council’s cash match funding requirement of £3.793m from borrowing with an associated annual revenue impact of £0.269m

3.3.     Approve the inclusion of enabling and infrastructure works associated to the Levelling Up Fund Award, within the planning application(s) for the demolition of the Riverside Shopping Centre and the former Riverside medical practice, as recommendation 3.2 approved in the Council report titled ‘Shrewsbury Town Centre Redevelopment Phase One’ 16 February 2022.

3.4.     Delegate to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning to:

3.4.1. Proceed with compiling the full financial details and business case for the scheme for inclusion in a further report for consideration by Council.

3.4.2. Progress a procurement and delivery strategy for the projects summarised in items 2.2 above.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing presented the report which sought Cabinet support to recommend to Council to accept the successful bid award from DLUHC Levelling Up Fund Round 2 to accelerate enabling and infrastructure works for the Smithfield Riverside Redevelopment Programme and deliver the Transforming Movement and Public Spaces project in Shrewsbury.

Members welcomed the investment and congratulated officers for being successful with the bid award; however concern was raised regarding the impact on the revenue budget should match funding be sourced through PWLB borrowing.

It was suggested that this item be taken to scrutiny before being agreed by Council.

Investment in active travel was welcomed; however it was acknowledged that the Movement Strategy was still awaited. Concern was raised regarding the cycle and pedestrian routes, particularly in the area of Castle Street and the Welsh bridge.

With regards to the Riverside development, it was felt that better consideration of the “meanwhile uses” must be taken into account to ensure these benefit the people of Shrewsbury.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council to:

3.1.     Approve the acceptance of the Levelling Up Fund Grant award from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), and instruct officers to progress the associated projects.

3.2.     Approve financing of the Council’s cash match funding requirement of £3.793m from borrowing with an associated annual revenue impact of £0.269m

3.3.     Approve the inclusion of enabling and infrastructure works associated to the Levelling Up Fund Award, within the planning application(s) for the demolition of the Riverside Shopping Centre and the former Riverside medical practice, as recommendation 3.2 approved in the Council report titled ‘Shrewsbury Town Centre Redevelopment Phase One’ 16 February 2022.

3.4.     Delegate to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning to:

3.4.1. Proceed with compiling the full financial details and business case for the scheme for inclusion in a further report for consideration by Council.

3.4.2. Progress a procurement and delivery strategy for the projects summarised in items 2.2 above.