By demoduck.co.uk Newsroom
A crane is due in central Shrewsbury from 8am on Tuesday 2 June as protection work at Perches House moves into one of its final major scaffolding stages.
Shropshire Council says parking on St Marys Place will be suspended from 10pm on Monday 1 June until the crane work has finished on Tuesday. Watergate Mansions car park will also be closed on Tuesday 2 June, with alternative arrangements being put in place in Shropshire Council car parks.
The work is part of the urgent effort to protect Perches House, a Grade II* listed building on Windsor Place, after a major fire in the early hours of 27 January. The fire badly damaged the building and claimed the life of its late owner, Rose Roberts.
Crane work on Windsor Place and St Marys Place
The crane is expected to be positioned at the corner of Windsor Place and St Marys Place. Its job will be to manoeuvre the main roof spans into position on the scaffolding frame above Perches House.
Contractors have been fabricating those roof spans on Windsor Place within an extended compound outside Windsor House. Shropshire Council said the wider scaffolding project is now nearing completion, after work began in April to create a temporary roof over the damaged building.
The council has warned that the crane timetable depends on the weather. If conditions allow the lift to go ahead as planned, the crane is expected to be finished by Tuesday afternoon or evening.
| Detail | Current arrangement |
|---|---|
| Crane arrival | From 8am on Tuesday 2 June |
| Crane location | Corner of Windsor Place and St Marys Place |
| Parking suspension | St Marys Place, from 10pm Monday 1 June until work finishes |
| Car park closure | Watergate Mansions car park on Tuesday 2 June |
| Ongoing restriction | A section of Windsor Place remains closed |
Parking and access changes for residents
The most immediate impact is on drivers who normally park on St Marys Place or use Watergate Mansions car park. St Marys Place parking will be suspended overnight before the crane arrives, giving contractors room to work and allowing the lift to be carried out safely.
Watergate Mansions car park will not be available on Tuesday 2 June. Shropshire Council said alternative arrangements are being made in its car parks, although residents and visitors should expect disruption around the area while the crane is in place.
The contractors are due to notify affected residents and businesses on St Marys Place about the planned work and traffic restrictions. The council has thanked nearby residents and surrounding businesses for their co-operation during the works.
Fatal January fire at Perches House
Perches House was badly damaged in a major fire in the early hours of 27 January. The incident also resulted in the death of Rose Roberts, the building’s late owner.
The council’s latest update is focused on the practical protection work now under way, but the reason for the disruption remains the scale of the fire damage and the building’s historic status. Because Perches House is Grade II* listed, stabilising and weatherproofing the structure is not only a local safety issue but also a heritage protection matter.
The building stands on Windsor Place, close to other town centre properties. Shropshire Council has said the temporary roof is intended to protect both Perches House and adjoining properties while the next stages are considered.
Temporary roof to protect listed building
The scaffolding is being carried out under an Urgent Works Notice. That type of action allows protective work to be taken where a listed building is at risk and immediate steps are needed to prevent further deterioration.
In this case, the temporary roof is designed to reduce exposure to weather after the fire damage. The crane lift on 2 June is expected to place the main roof spans onto the scaffolding frame, bringing the most disruptive part of the scaffolding operation closer to completion.
Once the roof spans are in place and the main scaffolding work is concluded, disruption in the area is expected to reduce. The ongoing closure of part of Windsor Place will remain the main continuing restriction.
Reduced disruption after the lift
Shropshire Council said the crane operation should conclude the majority of the scaffolding works if it goes ahead as planned. Weather may still alter the timing, so residents and businesses close to Windsor Place and St Marys Place should allow for possible changes on Tuesday 2 June.
Further updates are expected to depend on site conditions, the crane lift and the continuing work needed to keep Perches House and neighbouring properties protected.
Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom
Source check Source trail
This report is based on Shropshire Council’s published update about Perches House access, parking and scaffolding works.
- Checked the stated crane date and start time against the council update.
- Matched the affected streets and car park to the named locations in the notice.
- Kept the January fire context limited to details stated by the council.
- Identified Shrewsbury as the factual local geographic scope.
- Source
- Shropshire Council Newsroom
- Scope
- Shrewsbury
- Updated
- 2026-06-01 10:57
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