Shrewsbury crane works to affect town centre parking

By Hiyastar News Desk

A crane is due to be brought into Shrewsbury town centre on Tuesday 2 June as protection work at Perches House nears a key stage after the fatal January fire at the Grade II* listed building.

Shropshire Council said scaffolding contractors are preparing to manoeuvre main roof spans into position over the fire-damaged property on Windsor Place. The work forms part of an Urgent Works Notice intended to give the building a temporary roof and reduce risk to neighbouring properties.

The operation will affect parking and access around St Marys Place, Windsor Place and Watergate Mansions car park. The council has warned that the crane work is weather dependent, so the timetable could change if conditions are not suitable.

Crane work and parking changes

The crane is currently scheduled to be on site from 8am on Tuesday 2 June. It will be positioned on the corner of Windsor Place and St Marys Place while contractors lift the fabricated roof spans onto the scaffolding frame.

Parking on St Marys Place is being suspended from 10pm on Monday 1 June until the crane has finished its work on Tuesday. If the operation proceeds as planned, the council expects the crane work to be completed by Tuesday afternoon or evening.

Watergate Mansions car park will also be closed on Tuesday 2 June. Shropshire Council said alternative arrangements are being put in place in its car parks, though drivers should allow extra time if they normally use the area for town centre access.

Streets and properties affected

The most direct disruption will be around Windsor Place and St Marys Place, where the crane and extended compound are needed for the roof span operation. Contractors have been fabricating the main roof spans on Windsor Place within the compound outside Windsor House.

A section of Windsor Place will remain closed after the crane operation, but the council said the wider disruption should reduce once the majority of the scaffolding works are complete.

Residents and businesses on St Marys Place are being notified by contractors about the planned work and traffic restrictions. For people travelling into Shrewsbury, the practical point is that the area around the crane should be treated as constrained throughout Tuesday, even if the lift is completed earlier than expected.

Fatal fire at Perches House

Perches House was badly damaged in a major fire in the early hours of 27 January. The fire claimed the life of Rose Roberts, the late owner of the building.

The current work is being carried out several months later because the building needs temporary protection while longer-term decisions about its condition and future are considered. The council began work in April to erect a scaffolding roof over the property.

The update has been framed by Shropshire Council as both a safety measure and a heritage protection measure. Perches House is a Grade II* listed building, a designation used for particularly important buildings of more than special interest.

Temporary roof for a listed building

The temporary roof is intended to protect the damaged structure from further exposure and to help safeguard adjoining properties. In a historic street setting, the challenge is not only the condition of the building itself but also the limited space available for cranes, scaffolding and traffic management.

The council said the latest stage has been complex. The roof spans must be fabricated within the works area before being lifted into place, which is why the crane needs to operate from the Windsor Place and St Marys Place corner.

Once the roof spans are in position, the scaffolding works will have passed their main visible milestone. The remaining closure on part of Windsor Place is expected to continue, but the level of day-to-day disruption around the wider site should ease.

Next steps after the lift

The crane operation depends on suitable weather and may be delayed if conditions prevent a safe lift. If the schedule holds, the crane should leave site after the roof spans have been positioned on Tuesday.

Shropshire Council said it would like to thank residents and surrounding businesses for their continued co-operation during the works.

Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom