Whitchurch Civic Centre
The initial work to ensure that the future configuration of Whitchurch Civic Centre meets the needs of local people has now been completed.
The commissioning of a ‘needs analysis’ report was agreed by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet in February 2025 and and the work involved extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders to fully assess what would be required from a future Civic Centre.
The outcome of this work has now been considered by councillors and senior officers from Shropshire Council, and work is underway to refine the brief and concept for the building.
Subject to formal decision making by Shropshire Council and Whitchurch Town Council, it is likely that the aspiration will now be to potentially redevelop the site and create a new, modern, fit-for-purpose and energy-efficient building. This is emerging as the preferred option, as opposed to replacing just the roof structure.
Roger Evans, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance, said:
“I welcome the recent work to fully define what would be the best form for the building for the future. However, whilst an aspirational £4 million for this project was incorporated into the council’s capital strategy by the previous Cabinet, no actual funding was identified and put into the council’s capital programme.
“Work to understand funding options including potential CIL external funding is being carried out, and the new Cabinet will consider this as part of its re-prioritisation of capital projects in the near future.
“I understand the expectation and the need for Whitchurch to have a functioning Civic Centre and promise that we will continue to discuss and share future plans with the Civic Centre working group – made up of local Shropshire Councillors, Whitchurch Town Councillors, Helen Morgan MP, and officers from both councils – and provide regular public updates.
“A representative from the wider community is also being asked to join this group as it is important that we hear from everyone.”
The Civic Centre has been closed since September 2023 – except for the sports/market hall – after specialist engineers found that RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) exists across the majority of the complex, and that it has major structural issues.
