SHROPSHIRE Council is set to recommend the permanent closure and redevelopment of Whitchurch Civic Centre, as it would cost millions of pounds to repair after the RAAC crisis.

In a report to Shropshire Council’s cabinet ahead of its meeting on Wednesday, January 17, members will be asked to approve a recommendation to redevelop the building for ‘a potential return on investment’, which could see housing built on the site.

Much of the building, aside from its Market Hall, has been closed since last year because of the crumbling concrete, but there were hopes it could be repaired.

However, a report commissioned by the council says that to demolish and rebuild the Civic Centre on a ‘like for like’ basis would cost between £6-7.6 million – an option the council not considered.

Instead, the sixth, recommended, option put to councillors to consider a masterplan of mixed use development with residential units would cost £1.25m.

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The report said: “Following detailed investigations the assessment has deemed the building to be in a critical condition and has therefore been secured and closed.

“This report recommends the closure of the Whitchurch Civic Centre and library and acknowledging that the cost of repair is significant and to effect works to remedy the current critical condition would be uneconomic and not viable for the council.

“It is recommended that further work is done to conclude the options appraisal and progress more detailed work on the options to redevelop the site with the potential to have a potential return on investment and bring forward a more viable business case.”

Option six is considered to be the most ‘appropriate option to pursue’ as it provides the opportunity to ‘deliver community services within the heart of the town centre’ as part of a mixed use scheme.

The report added: “Officers will progress more detailed work to consider development options and a master plan which fulfil community needs and which mitigate as far as possible burden on the public purse.

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“This will also consider a range of possible redevelopment options such as parking provision or other uses to test and close out possible alternatives, taking into account the assessment of economic benefit/development and viability.”

The report said consultation with Whitchurch Town Council has taken place in respect of the closure of the building taking into account their position as the tenant of Shropshire Council.

The report added: “It would be Shropshire Council’s intention to serve notice to allow vacant possession to progress a preferred option once finalised.

“This would allow sufficient time for an alternative venue to be identified.

“In the immediate short-term limited use of the Sports Hall element of the building can continue under a risk assessment but ultimately this area would also be compromised in bringing forward a future option once finalised.”