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Campaigners voice concern over hotel plan

BBC Peter James outside Rowley's HouseBBC
Peter James from the Friends of Rowley's House said the planned hotel would be "dominant" in the area
  • Campaigners bidding to save Shrewsbury's historic Rowley's House mansion have voiced their concerns about a proposed hotel nearby
  • Plans have been approved for a new Travelodge on a car park next door
  • The campaign group says it will damage the prospects for turning Rowley's House into a tourist attraction

A group set up to protect one of Shrewsbury's most famous buildings has said it is worried for the future if a new hotel is built next door.

Plans have been approved for an 83-bed Travelodge on the car park next to the Grade II* listed Rowley's House, parts of which date back to the late 16th Century.

Peter James from the Friends of Rowley's House charity said it would make the mansion "very shut in".

The planning application describes it as "a high-quality development" that will assist in regeneration.

The proposal was revised after criticism of the original design, with a more varied frontage.

The architects say it draws "inspiration from the character and scale of the buildings in the area".

Morris Property/AHR Computer-generated image of proposed Travelodge Morris Property/AHR
The hotel would take up part of the privately owned Barker Street car park next to Rowley's House (visible at the rear)

But Mr James said he was concerned about the size of the new building, and the impact that would have on Rowley's House.

"It's four storeys high and it's going to be dominant," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I accept we do need another hotel, but there must be other sites that are more suited than here."

Rowley's House and Mansion has been empty for a decade, following the move of Shrewsbury Museum to the Music Hall building in The Square, and a short-lived plan for it to function as part of University Centre Shrewsbury.

Rowley's House surrounded by barriers and scaffolding
Rowley's House is currently unused and partly covered in scaffolding

The Barker Street car park, on which the hotel would be built, is owned privately by Morris Property.

It was sold by the former Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council more than 15 years ago, with a view to the site being used for regeneration.

A supermarket was proposed in 2009, as part of a scheme which also saw the partial demolition and rebuilding of the neighbouring Claremont Baptist Church.

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