Five Shropshire buildings facing uncertain futures

A historic tower in Bridgnorth was recently added to the Victorian Society's top 10 most endangered buildings list for 2026.

Shropshire is packed with iconic and important buildings like the Grade II-listed New Market Hall, which provide a sense of place and local pride.

The building is one of a number of buildings in Shropshire with uncertain futures due to neglect, safety concerns or disaster.

Below are five examples:

It has been almost three years since the Whitchurch Civic Centre was last used by residents.

The building was hastily vacated in September 2023 following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, also known as Raac, which is potentially dangerous.

The centre was home to many clubs and organisations, such as the town council, library, theatre group and driving test centre.

Many have since relocated elsewhere in the town, as uncertainty around funding offered little confidence of a quick fix.

Earlier this year, Shropshire Council, which owns the building, paused a number of infrastructure projects due to financial pressures - including the civic centre.

Until external funding can be found to replace the roof or redevelop the site, the building will remain mothballed.

In the early hours of the morning on 27 January, a 16th Century timber-framed building in Shrewsbury went up in flames.

The fire claimed the life of 81-year-old homeowner Rose Roberts. It also badly damaged what Shropshire Council described as one of "the most important historic buildings in the country".

Parts of the former merchant's mansion are thought to be more than 700 years old.

Its frontage was used as Scrooge's office in the 1984 movie adaption of A Christmas Carol.

As Perches House was uninsured, Shropshire Council stepped in under listed building legislation to ensure it remained structurally secure using scaffolding.

Roberts' family is fundraising to pay for the property to be stabilised.

Her daughter Jessica Richards said in January that up to £500,000 could be needed to fully restore the building.

A "toxic dispute" over the future of the Royal Victoria Hotel has been rumbling on for years.

Its owner, Roger Brock, has claimed that the building fell into disrepair because of long-running planning issues and asbestos. He wants the Grade II-listed former hotel demolished.

But Telford and Wrekin Council flatly rejected the proposal, saying it would not allow the hotel to be torn down.

The hotel was built in 1830 and takes it name from a visit by the then Princess Victoria of Kent, later Queen Victoria.

It closed in 2015 and three years later planning permission to demolish the rear extension of the hotel and convert the listed building into 12 apartments was approved.

But since 2023, the building has been wrapped in scaffolding and the owner has been issued with three enforcement notices to carry out repairs.

The council recently carried out further work to reduce the rate of its deterioration.

The legal dispute continues.

Shropshire Council's former headquarters turned 60 years old in April. With demolition on the cards, it may have been its last ever anniversary.

The Liberal Democrats running the authority were planning to knock the building down and redevelop the site with new homes, a medical practice and commercial space.

But the Reform UK group on the council wanted other options to be explored, in which Shirehall could be refurbished into a "modern, functional civic space" with commercial opportunities.

A report by a cross-party group of councillors concluded that demolition risked both financial and reputational harm to the council.

A "special Cabinet" is expected in the coming months to discuss the building's future.

Most councillors and employees agree that the Guildhall in Frankwell is not big enough for the council to reside in the long term.

But with the authority relying on government loans to pay for services, and with Shirehall costing £400,000 in annual maintenance costs, a very convincing argument to keep the building will be required if it is to avoid the wrecking ball.

Residents in Bridgnorth are fed up with one of the town's most prominent buildings being left in a poor state.

The privately owned New Market Hall, which has several businesses trading from its ground floor, has largely been left empty for a number of years, despite plans being approved in 2014 for it to be converted into a hotel.

In 2018, Shropshire Council spent public money on making the building safe. And despite further attempts to instruct the owner to make repairs, no significant work has yet been carried out.

The authority was recently awarded a Heritage at Risk grant by Historic England so specialist advice can be obtained on the best way forward to prevent the building from further decline.

Images show extensive damage to the roof, while masonry props are being used to support the ceilings inside the building.

The Victorian Society has urged the owners to bring the building back to life or sell it so "a new custodian can secure its future".

The BBC has repeatedly attempted to make contact with the owners.

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