Grants to get empty town centre shops used again

Oswestry Town Council said it was welcoming applications from businesses and start-ups.

Businesses looking to set up in premises vacant for more than six months could get a grant of up to £5,000.

The money could be used to refurbish and fit out sites, as well as for signage and improving accessibility, said Oswestry Town Council, which added 11% of the town centre's shops were classed as empty.

It is accepting applications until the end of next month from businesses and start-ups.

While Oswestry had fewer empty retail premises than most towns, the council would like to see vacant shops relet, it said.

Empty retail units and the condition of retail properties "are seen as important indicators of the health of a high street and are a problem nationally", the authority stated.

The amount of money available for the scheme overall is £25,000 and there will be a second bidding round in the autumn for any funding not allocated in the summer scheme.

The grants of up to £5,000 have been made available thanks to the council's Breathing New Life into Empty Properties initiative and money must be spent by the end of March next year.

The mayor of Oswestry, Rosie Radford, said: "We're keen to continue to support businesses and start-ups at a very local level."