Restoration and refurbishment of 18th century building set to start

18th century historic Market Street property being restored as part of Tamworth Borough Council’s town centre regeneration plans. Hoarding put in place on 19 June, with work starting following week. Town and market remain open for business.

Tamworth Borough Council’s regeneration plans take a further step forward with work set to start restoring and renovating a historic 18^th century building on Market Street as part of plans funded by the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The building, known by many as the former Peel café, will see work to bring the historic building back into use in a way that enhances its original Georgian features. 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, with some of the existing planters and benches outside the building being temporarily moved to allow for the works to take place.

Hoarding around the former Peel Café will be put in place from the 19 June, with work starting the following week.

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

• A new Enterprise Centre in the original 19^th Century former Co-operative building on Colehill.
• 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.
• 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, though there will be disruption, Tamworth town centre and market remain ready to welcome visitors for shopping socialising and leisure. Tamworth Borough Council is working closely with market suppliers LSD to offer any market traders unable to access their usual pitch being offered an alternative.

This investment really is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a town centre that meets the needs of.

Paul Turner, Leader of the Council said: “Our work to regenerate Tamworth town centre is really now starting to take place at pace, and it’s exciting to see plans that have been worked on for a number of years finally take shape.

“Throughout all the work the town and market will be very much active 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.”

Matthew Bailey, divisional director, Speller Metcalfe, went on to say: “We know the regeneration works will have a real and positive impact on the town centre and it’s local community, however as a contractor we do understand that temporary changes such as the installation of hoarding may cause a slight inconvenience. We will do everything we can do minimise any disruption, with our priority being to ensure the safety of our site and the general public at all times.”