A town centre has been named as “one to watch” as it bids to win government funding to transform the high street.

Oswestry has been hailed as a “really exciting place” to watch over the coming years by Shropshire Council leader Peter Nutting.

It comes as Shropshire Council’s Cabinet agreed to work on securing funding for the town to become a government high street action zone.

Councillor Nutting said: “There is lots going on in Oswestry and it will be a really exciting place to visit in the future.

“There’s plenty happening with Oswestry and it is one to watch I would say.”

Councillor Steve Charmley, deputy leader, presented a report to Cabinet detailing the plan, saying it would be “great news” for residents and businesses.

He said: “It is truly great news for Oswestry this funding and I am delighted to be able to recommend that it goes ahead by December 3.”

Oswestry was put forward as part of a £675 million government scheme to boost high streets in the country.

Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry BID could be asked to find an extra £350,000 on top of the £150,000 already committed to the match-funded scheme.

The Cabinet has approved plans to submit the plans to the government by the December 3 deadline.

Mark Barrow, the council’s director of place, said he was also pleased with the plans.

In his presentation to the cabinet, he said: “Historic England formally announced that Oswestry was one of 69 high streets across England that had successfully passed to the next, non-competitive, programme development stage.

“Cabinet approval is therefore sought for delegated authority for officers to work with the scheme’s core partners (Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry BID) to develop a full programme submission.

“The Oswestry zone represents a significant opportunity for Shropshire Council to secure a share of the £95 million that Historic England has been allocated to support transformational projects to support historic towns and high streets. 

“This is aligned with the council’s own aspirations for economic growth and equally recognising both similar and different challenges and opportunities facing Shropshire’s diverse market towns and high streets within them. 

“At this stage positive negotiations are ongoing amongst the Oswestry partners.

“Given the additional funding Historic England has secured for the HSHAZ initiative, this has resulted in them asking the scheme partners to consider how they could upscale the physical interventions, the only bid in the country to have been asked to consider this.”