Research is under way to see if enough demand exists from local people working from home to support the creation of a co-working space in Wellington town centre.

Many facilities supplying superfast Wi-Fi and flexible desk space on a daily or hourly basis have sprung up in larger cities but it would be pioneering to see one in a small market town.

The town council’s town centre committee came up with the idea but a professional survey to assess demand and need is being funded over the next two weeks by Somerset West and Taunton district council, using desk research and social media.

“So many people aren’t going to be returning to full-time office work when this pandemic is under control and some of them would really value the chance to spend part of their day working outside their own four walls,” said Cllr Keith Wheatley, one of the people behind the scheme. Two years ago the Pop-Up Shop was launched as one of the ways to help keep the High Street varied and vibrant. We need to keep thinking creatively about how to re-purpose some of the empty retail spaces that may not ever be coming back as shops.

“The key to a vibrant High Street and town centre is footfall. If people are coming less often to shop then what are there other wants? Hospitality, personal services such as hairdressing and maybe a place to network and do part of their work?”

Another part of the survey is looking at whether demand exists for workshops and small offices on flexible short-term licences in the Wellington area. A project like this, funded by Somerset County Council, opened in Wiveliscombe last month and is already 75 per cent occupied by small businesses and sole traders.