'Our town is becoming a desirable place to live'

The resident of a town centre flat refurbished as part of a council-backed scheme says the area once considered "down-and-out" is now "drawing people in".

Ren Wren is a tenant in one of the 16 flats in Maryport, Cumbria, brought back into use by Cumberland Council's Love Maryport Living Project, backed by a £12m pot from the council, the government and Historic England.

She said since money had been put into the town, new businesses were popping up and it was now "quite a desirable place to live".

The council said before the work, 70% of upper floor properties in the area were not being used as homes and they hoped the scheme would encourage more people to spend and socialise in the town.

Some of the apartments are now homes, while others are being rented out as holiday accommodation.

Building owners were awarded grants of up to £60,000, but had to pay at least 20% of the renovation costs themselves.

Properties on Senhouse Street and Crosby Street have benefitted from the initiative.

Michelle Mayman opened The Three Frogs, a ladieswear shop on Curzon Street in August last year, which is now expanding to the next door unit at the junction with Senhouse Street.

She said: "Even before the expansion, the reason we chose Maryport was because it's an amazing town and you can see there's so much potential there and so much money being spent."

She said the upgrading of the flats was "fabulous" and new businesses were coming into town.

"It's a very exciting time," she added.

Ian Ackerley, the project's lead at the council, said the scheme, which forms part of the government's Town Deal project, is much wider than the refurbishment of the flats.

He said the town would have a new activity centre, event space, a skate park and a cafe along the promenade.

"It's just to bring some life to the town, encourage tourism - a bit of positive news for the town."

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