STAKEHOLDERS have welcomed the near completion of restoration work being carried out in Oswestry using the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ).

Historic shopfronts are being reinstated to Oswestry town centre, and empty upper floors have been brought back to life, thanks to the joint project.

Grants have been awarded to businesses to carry reinstate historic shopfronts and bring empty upper floors back into use as accommodation, as they were originally.

The High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme, which has received funding from Shropshire Council, Historic England and Oswestry Town Council, is being delivered through a partnership between Shropshire Council, Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry BID (Business Improvement District).

One of the projects that is nearing completion is 1 Beatrice Street, whose shopfront has been transformed from the modern aluminium to a traditional wooden design with a recessed doorway.

The design was influenced by the original shopfront, while the upper floors are being brought back into use as accommodation with a four-bed flat over two floors.

Councillor Jay Moore, mayor of Oswestry, said they were delighted with how the project is working.

He added: "The town council have provided significant match funding for the HSHAZ project and are pleased to see a number of projects come to fruition.

"It is a complete transformation, and the renovations complement what is a really exciting and high quality local independent business.

"I congratulate the owners for their dedication and hard work.

"Another fantastic business in Oswestry, and we are pleased to have played a part.”

Ed Potter, Shropshire Council’s deputy leader, and Cabinet member for economic growth, regeneration and planning, said: “This project is having a significant impact on Oswestry town centre and bringing it back to life.

"There is so much going on in Oswestry under the HSHAZ scheme, and this is a leading example of how buildings are being rejuvenated, bringing benefit to the whole town.”

Josh Rogers, a business owner within Under One Roof at I Beatrice Street, added: “When we bought the property we saw the potential of this old building.

"Thanks to the HSHAZ grant we have been able to breathe new life into it and add something special to the high street.

"We really couldn’t have done it without the grant.”