The sight of empty shops in the high street is commonplace in the UK towns up and down the country.
One market town council in Shropshire is hoping to change that by offering grants of up to £5,000.
Oswestry Town Council is calling on local businesses and entrepreneurs to breathe new life into vacant town centre premises.
Through the Breathing New Life into Empty Properties initiative, the council is offering grants to businesses looking to occupy town centre premises that have stood empty for more than six months.
Funding is flexible and can cover a range of costs including refurbishment and fit-out works, interior and exterior decoration, signage and branding and accessibility improvements.
The Mayor of Oswestry, Cllr Jonathan Upton, said: “Oswestry’s town centre is in a strong position, and these grants are about building on that. We want to ensure that any vacant property becomes an opportunity for ambitious local businesses. This initiative reflects the council’s commitment to keeping Oswestry a place where new businesses can take root and the high street continues to thrive.”
Applicants have until August 21 to apply.
Other towns and cities across the UK are offering similar grants to try and fill empty shops, as the cost of living crisis has an effect on where people are spending their money, coupled with the increase in e-commerce.
