Sixteen empty properties have been brought back in to use in Maryport thanks to Cumberland Council’s Love Maryport Living initiative.
Work is now complete on all the upper floor accommodation, most of which had stood empty for many years.
The aim of the Love Maryport Living project was to transform unoccupied spaces above shops encouraging more people to live, spend and socialise in the town, giving a boost to the local economy.
Prior to the start of the project, research showed that around 70% of upper floor properties in Maryport were not in residential use, either because they had been historically used as storage or office space for the businesses below, because shopkeepers no longer traditionally live on the premises, or because residential tenants had moved on and not been replaced.
Some of the apartments are now homes, while others are being rented out as holiday accommodation.
Building owners were awarded grants funded by central government and managed by the council. Eligible property owners received funding of up to £60,000 per residential unit but had to pay at least 20% of the renovation costs themselves.
One of the town’s most distinctive buildings, at the junction of Senhouse Street and Crosby Street, was included in the scheme, with other properties on Senhouse Street also benefiting.
Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer said: “The Love Maryport Living scheme is breathing new life into the town. I am so pleased to see all this accommodation completed and that these upper floor spaces are no longer empty and wasted.
“The vibrancy of our town centres is a real priority for the council and getting people to live in them, as well as work and visit, is an obvious way of doing that. Maryport is a great town and I hope those who move into the properties, whether that is as tenants or tourists, love their time here.”
Property landlord Chris Peskett said: “I have been hugely grateful to be part of the Love Maryport Living scheme which has enabled me to turn some run down, unused space above shops into a range of seven excellent flats, with the help of contractor Mike Armstrong who has managed a team of trades who all hail from the town.
“Without the grant assistance these properties would never have been financially viable, but now we have seven flats which are sublet to a local business as serviced apartments. This mix of tourists and contractors brings much needed footfall to the area which in turn benefits local businesses.
“When one looks at the money invested in national schemes it is often difficult to see any visible benefits, but the very obvious regeneration visible at the addresses where grant assistance has been made is proof that the money is being used for exactly the purpose that it was designed, namely to bring back to its former glory, a super little town called Maryport.”
