We’ve had a few questions about what’s happening at the former Black’s building or at least the main part of it on Edward Street. Well, this is another of the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) projects, but this time with a difference. The building used to be four houses all built in the 1860’s, but was converted into shops and then one big shop sometime in the 1930’s. The HAZ is converting the three properties the Council bought back in 2019 into three individual properties, each with a workshop and retail space downstairs and a flat upstairs. These form a pilot for what we’re now calling live/work units but what used to be called living over the shop. The difference with these is that they are intended specifically for emerging creative businesses who want to make and sell from the same premises. The Council is currently looking at a letting model and to establish the criteria for applying for one of the units. Not to disappoint anyone but these units will not be available on the general market and the kind of activity we want to support won’t run to general café or retail operation.

Watch this space for more information as it emerges….