FIFTY jobs could be created following the refurbishment of a historic derelict warehouse in Frankwell.

The 250-year-old maltings building next to Frankwell car park and the Shropshire Council offices is undergoing a transformation to turn it into a thriving nightspot.

Kad Zaman, owner of the Station Hotel in Wellington, took on the building two years ago and said he had been approached by a number of restaurants and a cafe interested in using the space.

Now, with more interest from local businesses, he expects 50 or more jobs to be created in the complex.

“We are planning to take a bar there ourselves,” he said. “That will be 20 people, full and part time, and that’s just in one unit.”

He added: “If we’ve got five sites there could be 10 to 12 people on each site, but if someone wants to take the whole top floor that could be a lot of people too.

“With some of the prospective businesses we’ve had looking at the building, there would be at least 40-50 people, easily.

“The more we open it up and take the rubbish out, the more beautiful it looks,” said Mr Zaman. “We want to preserve the heritage.”

He said with the nearby night spots across the Welsh Bridge it was an ideal location.

“The more local business people we get involved the more it will generate,” he said.

“Our idea is to get as many people as we can over that bridge, and the way to do it is to have as many businesses involved as possible.

“Once you think about security, waiters, glass collectors, porters – it all adds up.”

He hoped businesses would be moved in and open to the public early next year.

Architects GMP Design Associates said: “We want to maintain as much of the historical fabric of the building as possible, but with modern touches,” he said.

“We’re looking to bring it all back to life including the derelict parts.”

He said the building had seen varied use in the past, most recently housing an antiques store and an Indian restaurant.

“It’s next to the theatre so it’s well located for people to go for dinner after or a drink beforehand,” he said.