£500,000 work begins to regenerate shopping centre

Last year Evabuild, a construction company in Newtown, completed the purchase of the town's Ladywell Shopping Centre.

The main shopping centre building has sat disused for a number of years, and had been on the market having previously being owned by a pension fund.

Construction fences have been put in place for around the building and contractors have moved in to start the work.

Nick Evans of Evabuild said the work will take around eight months to complete, and should breathe new life back into the disused former shopping centre.

He said: "We purchased it 12 months ago, and the building - which is known by the people of the town as the old Co-op - which is run down and had not been used for eight years.

"It is the main building on the site, and there are still other pop-up shops in the area.

Roof

"In total the refurbishment is going to cost around £500,000 in total. The building is structurally sound but the first job is to put a brand new roof on.

"It will take around eight months to complete in total, and the regeneration of the main building could lead to 80 to 100 jobs being created."

Mr Evans has revealed that a business is interested in taking on the lease to the new building, and an announcement will be made at a later date.

He also said he is proud of being a local businesses that is bringing something back to the local area.

He added: "When it was available it was something that just clicked with me, no one was doing anything about it.

"I'm a local lad and a local business and I thought why not take it on and invest in the area.

"We're proud to have taken on this project, and it is going to regenerate a key area of the town.

"Thanks has to go to the planners for backing us, and to the town regeneration loan scheme for helping with the refurbishment works."