Working in partnership in Shrewsbury

The Shrewsbury Big Town Plan (SBTP) has been in existence since 2018. It lays out the vision and goals for the town over the next 20 years that firmly put people at the heart of the place. 

It benefits from a unique delivery partnership consisting of Shropshire Council (the local authority), Shrewsbury Town Council and Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID) alongside a private sector chair, all of whom are united in the delivery of the plan and the betterment of the town. 

The plan focuses on four key themes:

  • Creating a place for enterprise
  • Rethinking movement and place
  • Supporting, creating and nurturing vitality, life and a mix of uses
  • Nurturing natural Shrewsbury

The importance of good design, and the impact it has on people and place, will help us deliver the plan, and contribute positively to Shropshire’s Economic Growth Strategy, resulting in design guidance for the town that provides enough flexibility to attract investment, innovative approaches and new uses whilst ensuring that the standard of design reflects Shrewsbury’s special qualities. 

Rethinking movement within the town is a key requirement, and improving our physical infrastructure will be necessary as our ultimate goal is to make Shrewsbury one of the most inclusive, accessible and economically vibrant towns in the UK. Shrewsbury Moves (our movement and public space strategy) is the vehicle with which we're doing that, consisting of 20 interventions that demonstrate our vision for the town over the next ten years.

It seeks to prioritise pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport above private motor vehicles. It's the next evolution of the town (and as we’re the birthplace of Charles Darwin we know all about evolution!), and in doing this we're able to devote more space to people. The economic growth of the town’s business will be facilitated by the physical infrastructure, whereby more premises can use pavement space to increase their capacity. Research indicates that a town that's easier to move around on foot and by bike promotes an increase in visitors, 'dwell time' and consumer spend, hence improving the economic growth potential with the town.