This transformational project will bring back into active use one of Wellington’s most important prominent buildings, 1 Walker Street, located in the town’s conservation area.

The funding for the project was securedby Telford & Wrekin Council in 2019 as part of the national Town’s FundInitiative.

The historic building which was firstoccupied by the Wellington YMCA in 1913 and which once hosted a World Snookerchampionship game, will be preserved with the development sympathetic to thehistory of the building and its surrounding area.

Proposals for the renovation would see upper floors renovatedto deliver high quality new homes for rent, complemented by a fully refurbishedground floor which will provide an attractive commercial opportunity.

The project will continue therevitalisation of Wellington town centre’s retail sector and bring high qualityliving space into the heart of the town. It will link with the council’s Pridein Our High Streets initiative as well as with Levelling Up funding that thecouncil has successfully secured from government.

Together these investments will continue to revitalise thetown’s High Street, aligning with changing customer demand and ensuring avibrant future for local businesses. The focus of investment will centre onMarket Square, the Market and the four historic streets of Walker, Church,Bell, Duke and Crown Streets.

GrahamWynn, Chair of Telford's Towns Fund Board, remarked, "The Wellington TownsFund project underscores our commitment to transforming this town into athriving and vibrant community. This strategic investment will not only reshapethe retail landscape but also invigorate the local economy, creatingopportunities for all." 

The refurbishment of 1 Walker Streetwill be a significant building project requiring the building to be vacant. TheCouncil is working closely with the current ground floor tenants Age UK to findalternative premises in Wellington. The Council has granted them an extendedperiod to find the right property and to ensure they benefit from the importantChristmas trading period, with work not planned to start until  early Spring next year.

Read the full article on the Newsroom website.