WORK is due to start shortly on renovating the former Kings Arms pub in Wellington town centre which has stood empty for seven years.

Falcon Rural Housing Association, which is based in Wellington, is turning the property into a street-level community facility with social rented flats on the upper floors.

It was recently granted planning consent for the project and this week the Wellington Weekly was told that work would begin before Christmas.

Falcon managing director Sam Southam said remedial works and health and safety checks were under way to make sure the building was safe for teams to enter.

Ms Southam said: “We will definitely be starting this side of Christmas. We want to bring it back to its former glory.”

The project will start by converting the ground floor into a multi-use community space which can be used by groups such as churches, voluntary organisations, small charities, and local council and public health agencies.

Falcon has been working closely with Wellington Town Council on a partnership agreement for the facility.

They said they expected it to be ready ‘by this time next year’.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Mark Lithgow welcomed Falcon’s announcement as ‘good news for the town’.

Cllr Lithgow said: “The Kings Arms is an important building in the town centre street scene and we are keen to see it brought back into use as soon as possible.

“We have been liaising closely with the housing association team and fully support their plans to convert the ground floor as a community hub.

“I am sure it will be well used and quickly become popular as a key addition to the facilities on offer in the town centre.”

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