£1m funding to revamp former Woolworths store into business hub

A successful bid for funding of £1m will be used to give a new lease of life to a retail space in Nuneaton town centre.

The grant, which potentially could create 75 jobs, has come from the Government’s Towns Fund team.

It will be used to repurpose the two floors above 22 Queens Road – known to many as the former Woolworths store – and create flexible working spaces that include both shared and dedicated office space with a new dedicated public entrance.

CllrJulie Jackson, leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and member of the My Town Nuneaton Board, said: “This funding is very welcome news for Nuneaton and another positive step forward for our town centre.

“To repurpose under-utilised spaces like this is forward-thinking and an excellent way to bring jobs and people into the town centre.

“With this and the Transforming Nuneaton project, we are on our way to seeing a tangible change in the town centre for the better.”

It is expected that the first tenants will move into the building by the summer of next year.

Sean Farnell, chair of the My Town Nuneaton board, added: “The aim of the Towns Fund is to level up towns across the country and release town centres’ economic potential. This accelerated funding certainly helps to do that here in Nuneaton.

“More flexible business spaces are needed in town and this is the perfect location for this to be created and do something with an empty space.

“This is one step closer to our goal of helping to regenerate Nuneaton and the town centre and help bring it into the future.”