A multi-million pound redevelopment of Shrewsbury’s Severn Trent headquarters has been given the go-ahead – bringing a jobs boost to the town.
The water giant was given permission by Shropshire Council last Thursday to build a 28,000 sq-ft, two storey office block at their site on Welshpool Road in Shelton. It will be built with sustainable materials such as recycled timber to cut energy costs by one third.
Several existing buildings will be bulldozed to make way for the development which will include the latest greentechnology, 223 new work stations and a 300-seater inhouse restaurant.
An artist’s impression
It is being paid for through savings made from operational improvements which have seen the closure of several existing sites with staff moving to the town headquarters.
Major landscaping work will also be carried out when the scheme begins in October and the existing car park will be re-arranged, a new refuse storage and collection area added as well as an access road connecting the site with the main Holyhead Road.
It is part of a drive for the Shrewsbury plant to become a key focus for the West Midlands region and the plan will bring a number of jobs.
Grace Marren, spokesperson for Severn Trent Water, said: “We are delighted to have our planning application approved. Work will now start to knock down and re-build our customer relations offices and build a new depot at our water treatment works in Shelton, Shrewsbury.
“The new offices will provide a modern working environment for our staff and will have the latest technology, such as biomass boilers, to make it an energy efficient building. We will also need to re-arrange the position of the car park to accommodate the new building and the project will create opportunities to employ more staff.”
Councillor Peter Adams said: “Planners obviously think the proposal will be unobtrusive to residents and it does seem to have a good balance so I would welcome the move. If Severn Trent can increase their efficiency and keep water rates under control at the same time then nobody is going to object to that.
“An area near to the site has also been earmarked as a ‘Shrewsbury Growth Point’ meaning the business park could develop as well as 700 homes built, so if this plan has the potential to create jobs then this would fit well with that.”
The second part of the refurbishment, which would include another office, depot and energy centre will be decided upon in September.
By David Seadon