The former Costa Coffee shop on King Street in the heart of Ludlow has been an eyesore since before Costa vacated the shop in May 2023. I began discussions with the owner on getting the place smartened later that year. Now at last there is some progress, albeit things are not progressing quickly.
I met with the lead operator for the owner, SEP Properties this lunchtime. I had hoped to also meet with the contractor for the new hospitality business expecting to take over the property but that was cancelled yesterday evening.
We discussed what work needs to be done to bring the building up to scratch and into use. There is a lot of configuration work needed on the ground floor. The staircase will be kept available with a view to refurbishing and changing the layout of the upper floors of the property to be let as apartments. The exterior of the building will be refurbished, including re-rendering. Windows will need to be replaced. They will be like for like.
This is a lot of work needed and it will require planning permission and listed building consent before major works can progress. Work on the outside will also require closure of King Street to accommodate scaffolding. Plans are being drawn up and I have offered to help get any consents through the system.
Meanwhile the frontage is an eyesore. SEP has agreed to remove the collapsing paper in the windows and look at a different method of screening off the interior until and while work takes place. I have suggested putting up posters from Ludlow Assembly Rooms and festivals in the window to brighten them up. (Thanks to those that have offered these.) This will be considered.
I am pleased that at last progress is being made though I fear it will be several months before the retail unit is brought back into use.
The new business has not yet signed the lease and cannot yet be announced. But we agreed this lunchtime that if everything goes through, it will be good for Ludlow town centre.
Thank you for sharing what you have learned. Let’s hope that SEP are good for their word and progress is made very soon. A display of art works or Ludlow memorabilia (from the museum?) would perhaps be preferable to a display of posters.
Thanks for idea. However, there will be work going on inside and it wouldn’t be suitable for anything other than posters.
At last.
I am delighted you will help with overcoming any bureaucracy regarding consents – these buildings need to be used or else they fall into decay, as we have seen. I don’t know what the problem is with the former Mc Cartneys building, but that is another eyesore that does not seem to be progressing. Many people are now commenting how shabby Ludlow looks, so any progress is vital.
Great news that there is even slow progress! It’s such an eyesore !
Thank you for your hard work making discussions happen !
Please not another hospitality business. We have too many already. Why not a greengrocer or haberdashery shop?