Yesterday when I was in town I noticed that two of Shrewsbury's residential developments, at the St Julian's Friars and Roushill building sites, were practically the same as they were half a year ago! Why is it that other similar things take nearly no time to build, such as Benbow Quay at Coton Hill, while other developments are taking years and years to complete? Methinks its slacking builders and too small construction firms taking on more than they can chew.

St Julian's Friars began about two years ago (or earlier than that even) and they've only just completed about a third of the overall development. What's worse is that the area has been disused since the mid-1990s. And then the fact that with high house prices you'd think that the house builders would have some incentive to finish their products and sell them! I don't see the full development, which includes a new road leading up the side of the BT building to Town Walls, finishing until 2010. Which is quite frankly shocking.

The “Nexus” development on Roushill - nice building, shame about how bloody long its taking the (estimated) four builders employed on the site to build it!! The structure has been finished for about a year now, but every time I go there (about twice a month) nothing else seems to be done. The new car parking area around the back is still a builder's yard (maybe that's a clue) and Mardol Gardens remains shut as the Roushill end is buried under a yard of sand and gravel!! Again, you'd think with the high demand for shop units (and one of the shop units there may be a new gym, which are in high demand too) and the high value of the new apartments above, the developers would be racing ahead to sell them and make profit. Nope, think again...

I tell you - some things in this town make me want to pull my hair out. Having been in Manchester as a student for the past year and seeing a 171 metre (555 feet) high, 48 storey, steel and glass skyscraper built in little over a year, it makes me wonder how long it could possibly take to build a few 3 storey high brick houses.

I'm not sure about the NEXUS development but I believe the St. Julian's Friars estate suffered from financial problems hence the delay.

Some answers! (-ish)

http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=47370

Thornton Baker who originally took on the development were on the local news around that time for massive snagging problems with another development in Bromsgrove where the new tenants were up in arms about shoddy workmanship.
I understood that they went into liquidation about 18 months ago and Carrilion took over?


They sold all the 1/2 bedders quite quickly but those left are over-priced,poorly designed and not a good buy IMHO despite prime positions regarding the railway station. town and having great river views.

A really good 21st century development could have unleashed the potential of that site with its river position and proximity to town but no, we get yet another fake, pseudo, olde worlde design that looks rubbish and demeans the genuine, attractive, listed buildings in the vicinity.

The Nexus development is way over schedule though it is not an easy site having a busy road frontage.
I went around it and was disappointed, not in the design, the apartments are spacious with wonderful views but the poor finishings. The company who are developing it do as you say PS seem to have' bitten off more than they can chew.' <_< A commercial developer would probably have managed that site better.

Went to visit the Nexus building on Roushill today and... they're still not finished. How much longer will it take?! How long can they possibly take to finish this one off?!! :rolleyes:



The pavement on Roushill is half-done. I'm not sure why we needed those black metal bollard things.

I've updated the Mardol Gardens thread too:

http://shrewsburyforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=329

Maybe in 2020 we can expect this passage to re-open?! :blink:

There was a big spurt of work a few months ago but it seems to have ground to a bit of a halt recently, it doesn't look like it should take that much to finish though. I like the building, I think it makes a very refreshing change from the usual bland stuff we get in Shrewsbury, just a shame about the lovely view of the back of the Riverside precinct the residents will get!

Anyone know anything about the "open day" at the Nexus development set to take place on the 28th/29th October? Is it just for those who have bought apartments there?

Hopefully it will mean that the development will be pretty much completed by the end of this month...

Will I get to walk down Mardol Gardens this year? Odds are no, for even when this development finishes they will no doubt block off the passage one way or another. "Security"...

'Open days' are (I thought) for the public to come along, so any potential buyers can view what's on offer.

Fletcher Homes are taking over St Julian's Friars...

http://www.shropshirestar.co.uk/2006/10/pr...ll-in-receivers

3rd time lucky?? :blink:

Mardol Gardens is open!... well, during daytime hours Monday-Friday and only while they are finishing the car park around the back of the Nexus development. So if you want to walk along Mardol Gardens, make sure you go soon as the gates have been installed and will be in action when the residents move in...

Did you have a look at the show flat at the W/E Proud Salopian?

Apparently the massive hold up with the build was something to do with the roof having to be changed and then some very expensive glass was put in. I love that curved retail glazing taking you through to the Mardol, perhaps it was that. I hope it doesn't get vandals smashing it. :(

I was told it will be open all day for shoppers to pass through but the security shutters closed at 5 or 6 pm. :)

If that's the case then I'll be the happiest Proud Salopian since the time when Henry VIII was told to go away and take his cathedral, city status et al with him!!

And no, I didn't have a look at any of the flats there - I doubt I can afford any of them! ;) (Well, not yet... give it 20 years...)

Having a look at maps from both medieval times and the late Victorian era, it seems that Mardol Gardens now follows the original direction of the plots of land. The 1980s version of Mardol Gardens had the passage curving around and coming out very near to where Phoenix Place exits onto Roushill. The "new" route is actually a restoration of the old town pattern... (as well as being a shorter route and therefore more of a shortcut) B)