Oakengates is an historic town and a key local centre with an array of community assets within the town centre including the Borough’s principal theatre venue and excellent road, rail and bus connections.
In line with local high streets across the country, Oakengates was seeing a decline in the number of people visiting the town but this has already started to change with the Council’s investment in high street regeneration. 7 new businesses have been supported to start up in the last 5 years and the high street has been rejuvenated through a façade improvement programme that has seen 33 building frontages restored.
In 2021, the Council secured Towns Funding to regenerate part of the local centre, to transform the 1960’s shopping precinct into a modern, welcoming shopping destination. The transformation will include the regeneration of town centre housing with the creation of ten new homes above refurbished shop units. This project will also see the creation of a new enlarged public space to host events and activities for the community.
Most recently in March 2023, the Council secured funding to remodel Telford Theatre. The current theatre building which is now nearly sixty years old will be largely rebuilt, complementing the regeneration of the shopping and living space. It will regenerate the town centre and support the local economy with an exciting new cultural programme, attracting new audiences from locally and beyond. This project will ensure there is a modern theatre in Oakengates for many years to come.
