New lease of life for empty shops with £5k grants
The Breathing New Life into Empty Properties initiative will fund local businesses to move.
**New grants to revive empty shops with £5,000 support**
The initiative provides funding for refurbishment, decoration, signage, branding and accessibility improvements.
Empty shops in Oswestry may soon be brought back into use, with businesses able to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to take over vacant town centre premises.
Oswestry Town Council is encouraging entrepreneurs and established firms to move into properties that have been empty for more than six months, with money available to help meet the costs of turning them into usable spaces.
The scheme is available to new owners and occupiers taking on vacant town centre properties, but it cannot be claimed by landlords or tenants who were already in place when a building became empty.
Mayor of Oswestry, Cllr Jonathan Upton, said funding was still available and urged businesses to apply.
The Breathing New Life into Empty Properties initiative provides grants for a variety of upgrades, including refurbishment work, decoration, signage, branding and accessibility improvements.
Upton said: "There's still funding available and we would love to see it put to good use.
"Our 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 our high street continues to thrive."
Applications are open until 23:59 GMT on 31 December.