Work set to begin on transforming former shop into community hub

Work is set to begin on transforming a former newsagents into a community hub for residents in Bishop's Castle.

Bishop's Castle Community Land Trust has confirmed builders are expected to arrive on site in April.

They will renovate the former Stars newsagents at 68-70 Church Street, which has started to fall into disrepair after six years of lying vacant

The first change people will see is the removal of the 1980s shopfront, to be replaced with one more in keeping with the 19th Century street scene.

Project manager Jonathan Brown said: "The joinery will be done Anthony Jones, a local craftsman".

"We are very keen to ensure that as much of the work as possible is carried out by firms trading in and around Bishop's Castle".

He continued; "It's almost a year now since the Trust became owners of the building and we are really looking forward to finally being able to begin getting this building brought back to life".

The plans also include the refurbishment of the upstairs flat which will be extended into a two-bed, and the creation of a new one-bed flat to the rear of the shop on the ground floor.

Both properties will be ‘affordable homes’ for local people in housing need, and the trust says the rental income will help to safeguard the future of the community hub.