Revamp begins on former YMCA building

Work has begun to turn a Victorian building into apartments and shops in Shropshire.

The scheme for the former YMCA building on Walker Street, Wellington, Telford, is expected to be completed by summer 2025.

The upper floors of the building, which will become nine apartments, have been empty for more than 15 years.

"We are committed to the regeneration of Wellington and continuing to bring more shops into the centre and creating more town centre living space," said councillor Lee Carter, Labour leader of Telford and Wrekin council.

The ground floor of the building will be turned into space for shops which the council previously said would be "ideal for a potential restaurant to support the night-time economy".

To prepare for the building work, street furniture, including bollards and cycle hoops, have been removed - but the authority said they would be upgraded and reinstalled upon the project's completion.

The YMCA work is part of an overall regeneration plan for Wellington which the council has drawn up, funded in part with £12m from the government's Towns Fund and Capital Regeneration Programme.

Other projects include restoring the town's market.

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