EMPTY buildings in Weston-super Mare could be turned into workspaces, performance spaces and artists’ studios.

There are also plans to provide affordable housing for marginalised residents.

This comes after community non-for-profit organisations teamed up to create plans to join up their services and give a new lease of life to vacant buildings, thanks to support from project management company Raise Partnership and funding from North Somerset Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Advice was provided to help the organisations collaborate and grow, with the aim of supporting them to better support their communities in North Somerset.

Some of the proposals for Weston-super-Mare include re-purposing empty town centre units in to provide long-term sustainable property alternatives to accommodate multiple uses including performance space, workshops and artists’ studios.

Another plan for the town is to create a Community Land Trust which will look to provide affordable housing for marginalised residents.

Race Equality North Somerset (RENS) are leading this project and successfully applied for UKSPF community grant funding for a feasibility study into taking over a disused building for this purpose.

Similar proposals are taking place in Clevedon where there are plans for a physical base at Clevedon Community Centre to create a hub for the community and the arts, and Portishead where there are plans for a new wellness hub.

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s Executive Member for Spatial Planning, Placemaking and Economy, said: “We are delighted that our UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme has been able to support so many organisations to build their capacity and continue helping North Somerset residents into the future.”

Richard Savory, Managing Director of Raise Partnership Limited, said: “Following an incredible year in 2022 working with North Somerset Council on their Community Renewal Fund programme, it has been great to be back to support the council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund over the last 18 months.

“It has been a privilege to work with so many inspirational community champions and support at least 30 VCSE organisations during this time.”