A patch of Abbey Foregate that’s sat forgotten for years is about to get a new lease of life – as a public ‘pocket park’ for everyone to enjoy, thanks to a partnership between Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID) and a local businessman. 

The vacant site, currently fenced off between Hair 21 and the railway bridge, will be transformed into a welcoming public space: with planting and a comfortable seating area at the front for people to stop, rest and catch up with neighbours, and a community garden behind it for those who live in the town centre but lack garden space. The space will also feature free high-speed public WiFi, lighting, secure cycle storage and a Brompton bike hire station. 

The land is owned by local businessman Martin Monahan, who will coordinate the setup of the space, working with local charitable group the Shrewsbury Men’s Shed, which exists to tackle male loneliness by bringing men together to work on practical projects. Work will begin later this week to clear the site, with phase one involving the removal of fencing before beginning groundworks to ready the site for public seating and a new community garden.  

The project is funded by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership, backed by capital funding from UK government through the UKSPF Supporting Local Community & Place Fund. The partners expect the space to be available for public use by the end of September. 

It comes alongside a wider programme of area enhancements already announced for Abbey Foregate and marks a further step in transforming this gateway to Shrewsbury into a more welcoming, pleasant and greener space. 

Emma Molyneux, Project Lead, Shrewsbury BID, said: “Lots of us walk past this bit of land every day and don’t think twice about it. It is fair to say it’s not the prettiest corner of Abbey Foregate at the moment. By turning it into a pocket park, with somewhere to sit and somewhere to grow things, we will make a genuine improvement to the local street scene – and offer a much more pleasant welcome to the town.” 

Martin Monahan said, “I’ve owned this land for many years, and I’m delighted to make it available free of charge to Shrewsbury BID and work with local partners to transform it into a welcoming green space. It will give something back to the community, enhance the Abbey Foregate area and encourage more people to cycle. I’m really excited to see the project come to life.” 

Cllr Rob Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Regeneration, Shropshire Council, said: “This is a wonderful example of town centre regeneration – a local landowner, a community group and the Big Town Plan Partners all working together to turn a forgotten and disused corner into somewhere people will genuinely want to spend time. It’s a brilliant addition to everything else happening on Abbey Foregate.”