NEWSROOM

Latest figures for 2026 show overall high street vacancy rates across Telford and Wrekin have now been reduced from 9% to just 3.3% - well below the UK national average which is 13%.

And hundreds of previously empty shops are now thriving businesses thanks to the Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme which continues to support small enterprises and strengthen and revitalise the Borough’s town centres.

Since the initiative was launched in 2018, the Council has award 74 business start-up grants worth £665,000 as well as 58 trial start-up grants worth £126,500 and start-up businesses have created 441 jobs locally.

Start-up grants help businesses to establish permanent bases on the high street in empty units while start-up trial grants provide an opportunity to test themselves on the high street first, open as pop-up market stalls.

There are also a range of other grants available including a façade grant, an eco grant, a digital grant and a new diversification grant which was launched in November.  

Councillor Ollie Vickers, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy and Transport, said:

“In Telford and Wrekin, we are bucking the trend for national empty units compared to the national average figure and it’s fantastic news that we’ve reduced this rate even further from 9% to 3.3%.

“We’re proud of what we have achieved to date through our Pride in Our High Street programme helping businesses to set-up, grow and flourish across the Borough.

“As a direct impact of the scheme we have supported the creation of many good jobs in the Borough too. 

“We continue to support businesses through the programme to help them grow and flourish, helping our Borough to become a better place to live, work, learn and socialise.”

Find out more about the Pride in Our High Street programme