‘Unacceptably small’: Shrewsbury flat plan for former Salopian Sports building refused

The scheme at 17 Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury, known to many in the town as the former Salopian Sports, would have seen five new apartments built on the upper floors of the building, with the ground floor and basement set aside for retail.

But Shropshire Council ruled out the development after ruling that three of the flats would fall “significantly below” the government’s minimum space standards and provide an “unsatisfactory residential environment for future occupiers”.

Planning permission was granted for a smaller residential project in May 2023, the building had been empty after the sports shop ceased trading in 2017, but the building has since changed hands .

A later scheme for seven apartments had been withdrawn earlier this year and the council’s planning officer’s report said that although the principle of residential development on the upper floors of the building had been acceptable, the size of the proposed units was still unsatisfactory.

“Three of the proposed apartments fall significantly short of requirements … and would provide unacceptably small accommodation units,” the report said.

“It is therefore considered that the proposed internal layout is unacceptable and will not provide a satisfactory standard of living for future residents.

“No private outdoor service space is offered. However, it is considered acceptable for conversion to one and two-bed flats of listed buildings located in the city centre, with Parc de la Pedrera and other facilities and services available and legibly accessible in the urban core,” the report states.

“No parking will be provided for residents of the flats and this is also considered acceptable in this city center location close to all services and amenities and public transport.”

Shrewsbury Council had said it maintained its objection to the plan because the proposed flats were still too small.

The plans include a minor alteration to reinstate a side door to the historic facade of the Grade II listed 18th century building, with no objection raised by the council’s heritage team and a separate application approved for the authorization of listed buildings.

The shop was formerly a stationer and newsstand in the 1920s before becoming Mansells toy store in the 1960s.