Shrewsbury Big Town Plan
Shrewsbury BID
2025 - on-going
Abbey Foregate: Boosting wellbeing on a local high street
Establishing a wellbeing baseline for Abbey Foregate in Shrewsbury, to measure how planned public realm greening and improvements will enhance residents' health, nature connection and quality of life.
Aewell
Purpose
Tranquil City is working with Shrewsbury Big Town Plan to measure how planned improvements to Abbey Foregate, a historic gateway to the town centred around Shrewsbury Abbey, will affect local wellbeing. Using our Aewell impact framework and tools, we're capturing how people use, experience and feel about the area before, during and after changes are made, providing evidence to inform design decisions and demonstrate real impact.
Approach
Worked with the team to establish key project objectives and KPIs for evaluation
Deployed two complementary survey methods - a Community Survey capturing residents' typical use, attitudes and general wellbeing, and a self-guided Walking Survey measuring how people's perceptions and mood change at specific points along Abbey Foregate
Coordinated survey distribution with key project partners, local businesses, and online networks to result in 3 times the response targets
Baseline data was collected in autumn 2025, with post-intervention and ongoing monitoring surveys planned to track how improvements shift people's experience over time
Results
The baseline phase generated a strong evidence base from the local community, with clear signals about what's working and what could be done to encourage more visits, dwell time and improved experience.
316 survey responses collected in just three weeks, including 56 detailed Walking Surveys
Overall community wellbeing scored 6.86 out of 10, with happiness and life satisfaction both at 7.18
83% of locals visit Abbey Foregate regularly, but 56% are just passing through rather than stopping to spend time
The area scored 4.33/5 for accessibility, but only 2.87/5 for providing opportunities to sit and spend time
Walking the street produced a significant 8.5% increase in nature connection
The community's priorities included:
more seating (69%)
more greenery (62%)
less traffic (48%)
less noise (38%)
more public art (36%)
The project is currently in the design phase, and a follow-up evaluation is planned to understand how changes affect metric performance.
Quotes
"It's a lovely place to live and I'd really spend more time here outside my home if there was more greenery and places to relax in nature."
Woman 18–24, Community Survey
"So much community that could be involved in the area, in enhancing the spaces to be more accessible and safe. A great asset — not every town has such a beautiful Abbey. It was always one of the gateways to the town and could be again."
Woman 60–69, Walking Survey