The long-vacant property in Oswestry

A long‑vacant property in Oswestry town centre is being brought back into commercial use thanks to support from Invest in Shropshire through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Property Improvement Grant.

The grant has supported essential structural repairs at 3 Willow Street, a commercial property that had remained vacant and on the market for a considerable time before being purchased in February 2025. When the new owners acquired the building, it was uninhabitable, with electrics and plumbing removed and extensive structural issues revealed once internal plaster was stripped back.

Cracking and movement throughout the building raised serious concerns, requiring a structural engineer to produce a detailed stabilisation plan. Without early intervention, the issues risked escalating into major structural failure, significantly increasing repair costs and threatening the future viability of the building.

Funding awarded through the Property Improvement Grant helped ensure urgent works could be carried out at an early stage. These included the installation of seven steel beams to stabilise the structure, replacement of rotten roof components, and repairs to the front elevation and roof. Together, the works have secured the building and prevented further movement.

Jodie Lamont, the grant recipient, said:

“When we first took on the building, the scale of the structural issues was a real concern. The grant funding has been crucial in making the property safe and preventing further deterioration. It has stopped costs spiralling and has allowed us to move forward with confidence. We hope to pursue further development funding options to complete the remainder of the refurbishment.

Cllr Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Economic Growth, said:

“The purpose of this grant is to restore empty buildings so they become safe, usable commercial spaces again. Initiatives like these are precisely what the Property Improvement Grant aims to encourage, alongside the broader benefits such as boosting the local economy and revitalising our market towns and High Streets.”

The Property Improvement Grant programme offered grants of between £2,000 and £10,000, covering up to 50 per cent of eligible improvement costs. It formed part of a wider package of UKSPF investment supporting town centre regeneration and economic growth across Shropshire and was made possible through external funding provided by government.

(Photos by kind permission of Jodie Lamont)

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was a UK Government fund managed by local authorities to support local priorities and reduce inequalities between communities.
• The fund has three investment priorities: Supporting Local Business; Community and Place; and People and Skills.
• The Property Improvement Grant supported eligible commercial properties in market town conservation areas that had been vacant for at least 12 months.
• Invest in Shropshire is Shropshire Council’s inward investment and business growth service.