A rank of vacant, boarded up shops in Weston-super-Mare are to be brought back to life -in a bid to boost footfall to the town centre.Three shops at Walliscote Road, which were used as a takeaway, a charity and by an insurance firm, are to be revived as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone Shopfront Enhancement Scheme.

The work on the stores, opposite the Odeon Cinema, will see the shopfronts replaced and new timber framed glazing installed along with entrance doors and fascias for shop signage. The work, which started this week, is expected to take four weeks to complete.

They will then be let to new businesses. The project is the sixth shop front enhancement scheme in the town.

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Funded by Historic England, the Shopfront Enhancement Scheme was open to priority properties within the town’s Heritage Action Zones. Nathan Moffatt, a local developer and owner of the three buildings, said: “It’s great to begin the shopfront restoration with support from the council and Historic England.

"Once complete, we’ll then carry out a full internal refit before listing all three shops to let by the summer.

“An important part of this project is being able to support the need for good quality, sustainable and affordable housing in the town centre through renovation of the upper floors above the commercial units. This in turn will help to increase footfall in the town centre, while strengthening the local economy.”

Buildings already revived under the scheme include Walker and Ling in the High Street and the Fork and Ale Taproom. The Old Kendalls building on the corner of High Street and Regent Street has been transformed to house 11 businesses including Greggs, Weston Hospicecare and Coffee #1.

North Somerset Council executive member for business, economy and employment Councillor Mark Canniford said: “I’m so pleased to see work starting to improve these three Victorian buildings which occupy a prominent location in Weston’s town centre.

“With the High Street Heritage Action Zone ending in March 2024, it’s great to add the sympathetic enhancement of another three shopfronts to the legacy of the scheme. This has not only made a positive difference to buildings’ physical appearance but is helping to encourage more footfall and trade into the town.”

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