New lease of life for former homeless centre

The two premises are next to each other on Castle Gates, Shrewsbury

A former homeless drop-in centre is set for a new lease of life after a change of use was approved by Shropshire Council.

The authority has given the go-ahead to a plan to extend the ground floor of the Tumbledown Hotel and Albion Bar into the former Shrewsbury Ark building.

The first and second floor of the building will become extra accommodation space, adding two rooms to the hotel.

The building, opposite the town’s railway station, has been vacant since 2022 when the charity moved its base to the former Rock and Fountain pub nearby.

A separate licensing variation to extend the pub’s operations into the new building, outlining plans to turn the space into a breakfast room and pool area, was approved by Shropshire Council’s licensing committee in October 2023.

The extended premises will not be allowed to play amplified music in the rear courtyard, to protect people in the buildings behind.

Despite objections being raised to the licence application, the council said none were received during the planning process.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.