Shrewsbury: Plans for 83-bed Travelodge approved for town centre

The proposed hotel, shown here in images by designers, would reduce to three storeys near to Rowley's House

Plans for an 83-bed hotel in Shrewsbury town centre have been given the go-ahead, despite objections from several councillors.

The Travelodge in Barker Street, next to Rowley's House, was approved by a planning committee on Tuesday.

Councillor Nat Green said the four-storey building would be "overbearing" and urged the committee to refuse it.

However, others said it would elevate the area and noted changes had been made to a previous application.

Councillors approved the plans with six voting in favour and four against.

Shrewsbury Town Council and 54 members of the public were among those who objected, while there were eight letters of support.

The hotel will be built on Barker Street car park, with three shop units on the ground floor.

Mr Green, who represents the Quarry and Coton Hill ward, which includes the town centre, told Tuesday's meeting the hotel would be detrimental for the neighbouring Grade II*-listed Rowley's House and Mansion.

Rowleys House, built in the late 16th Century, is one of hundreds of listed buildings in Shrewsbury

"Despite stringent criticism from the civic society, Big Town Plan and Historic England, it would appear officers are prepared to accept this scheme on the basis that if you keep throwing mud at a wall, eventually something will stick," he said.

"To have the scheme described in effect as 'better than a car park' is a very low bar to clear, and the statement isn't necessarily true in any event, particularly when the scheme will cause significant harm to the setting of one of the most iconic half-timbered buildings in Britain."

But councillor Vince Hunt said the current setting of the historic building was "uninspiring" and the hotel would "enhance the whole area".

Philip Mullineux, council development manager, said lengthy discussions with the applicants had seen the building redesigned twice prior to latest submission.

And Ian Kilby, agent for the applicant, said it was a significant improvement on previous plans for a four-storey medical centre approved for the site.

The hotel would represent a £7.8m investment from the applicants and boost the town's economy by accommodating about 43,000 visitors a year, he added.

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