Further step forward in Tamworth town regeneration work

Victorian former Co-op building being restored as part of Tamworth Borough Council’s town centre regeneration plans. Hoarding put in place from week 10 July, to prepare for work starting. Town and market remain open for business.

Tamworth Borough Council’s regeneration plans take another step forward with hoarding being put in place and preparatory work starting on restoring and renovating the beautiful Victorian former Co-op building on Colehill as part of plans funded by the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The aim of the works is to bring the historic building back into use as the second Enterprise Centre in Tamworth, with a focus on highlighting and enhancing any original Victorian features during the process. The new Enterprise Centre will complement the existing well-used and over-subscribed Tamworth Enterprise Centre at Philip Dix House in Corporation Street.

This redevelopment will provide affordable serviced offices in the heart of Tamworth town centre in the existing shop frontages and upper floors facing Colehill and Church Street. The new facility will have a variety of offices, including larger spaces for businesses to grow into, as well as offices suitable for start-ups.

To deliver the project, Tamworth Borough Council are working with their delivery partner Speller Metcalfe, who will manage the project and the site.

To make sure town centre visitors remain safe throughout the work, hoarding will be put up around the front of the building week commencing 10 July.

This is the one of a series of projects worth over £21million to transform the town centre into the busy, thriving heart of the community, delivering:

• Middle Entry renovations which will see some vacant units demolished to be replaced by a new flexible, multi-use building for independent small businesses.
• Restoration and refurbishment of the historic vacant properties on Market Street (opposite Peel Café) and creating a wider footbridge into the castle grounds.
• Restoration and refurbishment of the late 18^th century former Peel Café, bringing a historic building back into use in a way that enhances its original Georgian features.
• A new Enterprise Centre in the original 19^th Century former Co-operative building on Colehill.
• Public realm works that will link all the projects together.

Additionally, South Staffordshire College is also building a new college facility replacing the demolished 1960s part of the Co-operative Building, which delivers a combined investment of over £40million in Tamworth town centre.

Throughout all the work, although there will be disruption, Tamworth town centre and market remain ready to welcome visitors for shopping, socialising and leisure.

This investment really is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a town centre that meets the needs of businesses, residents and visitors.

Paul Turner, Leader of the Council said: “Throughout all the work the town and market will be very much full of life and I’d urge everyone to continue to shop, socialise and visit the town centre. Yes, there will be disruption for a while, but this disruption will rejuvenate our town centre that meets the needs of 21^st century shoppers, residents and businesses.

“Our regeneration plans are ambitious as we strive for a town centre fit for the future. Work behind the scenes getting us to this point has been extensive, and it is so good to see our plans begin to take shape on the ground.”

Matthew Bailey, divisional director, Speller Metcalfe, went on to say: “It’s great to see the different pockets of the council’s regeneration scheme coming together, and the erection of the site hoarding around the old Co-op building demonstrates another step forward for the scheme.

“As the contractor, we will be working hard to ensure everything runs to programme with minimal disruption to residents and businesses visiting and working in the town centre.”