Council to leave ageing 1960s site by end of year

The council said the 1960s building was more expensive to operate than any comparable 21st Century building

Shropshire Council will move headquarters by the end of the year after councillors voted to push ahead with plans to leave its ageing, 1960s building.

The authority said it would spend £1.2m moving staff, the council committee rooms and chamber from Shirehall in Shrewsbury into the Guildhall in Frankwell, but the move would save up to £600,000 per year.

Housing and assets portfolio holder Cllr Dean Carroll said steps to “accelerate” the authority’s departure from Shirehall were due to high costs associated with remaining there.

Staff are expected to begin moving into the Guildhall in November, with meetings and possibly full council expected to be held there before Christmas.

“The building has indeed failed in function, in technical and in economic respects. It’s far more expensive than any comparable 21st Century building would be to operate as a major office complex," Carroll said.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Mary Davies raised concerns about future development at Shirehall and said demolition should be the "last resort”.

She said: “Ideally every option should be considered by interested parties from adapting or reusing some parts or all of the building for both residential, commercial and community purposes.

“This would not only reduce the carbon footprint, it would also ensure such an iconic building, one of the county’s most prominent modernist buildings, will continue to dominate the skyline.”

Reconfiguration work is ongoing at the Guildhall, while facilities at Shirehall are expected to be reduced imminently to the ground and first floors.