An investment in a key property on Bedford’s High Street was celebrated with the unveiling of a giant banner this week.
The BedfordBID’s Love Bedford promotional poster is on the corner of 100 High Street – the former Porter Black’s pub, now owned by an enterprising young couple.
Sandeep and Sharan Sira are overseeing a £500,000 investment in the property and have given BedfordBID permission to hang the huge hard-wearing banner whilst renovation work continues.
“Number 100 is going to be a great gateway to the High Street and we are delighted the owners have allowed us to fly the flag for all of the town centre there,” said Christina Rowe of BedfordBID which represents 550 levy-paying businesses,
“Opposite at Newsfayre more Love Bedford signs have been put up at the windows to present a pretty picture to those arriving in the town via the A6. Farther along the High Street we have filled the window of an empty property with more Love Bedford imagery.
“Presenting the best face of Bedford to visitors is part of our mission and we are glad of the co-operation of landlords and businesses owners in this activity.”
Sandeep Singh Sira & family are investing in Bedford
Work is well underway on the long-awaited renovation of 100 High Street. Former Mark Rutherford school student and SDC trainee Sandeep Sira, aged 31, and his wife Sharan, 30, have invested hundreds of thousands of their own money in buying and renovating the property which had stood derelict for a decade. They live at Wilden with their five-year-old daughter Manpriya and baby son Gurvir.
If all goes according to plan: the basement and ground floor will be leased to a suitable business and the first floor turned into flats. It is hoped a second floor can be created with two penthouses which will have views of the statue of the town’s most famous son, John Bunyan.
“We are very proud of this project and we want to create something that adds vibrancy for the town centre, and will help sustain Bedford as this is an investment for our children’s future,” said the couple who married in 2006 and set up their own company, Sira Building & Development Ltd, the following year.
Since then they have completed a range of quality domestic and commercial refurbishment projects. Sandeep is the project manager, using experience he gained working in London on corporate developments and Sharan handles finances and more.
“This is a family business where we are building a future for ourselves and our children,” added the couple.
The Bedford Townscape Heritage (THI) team have been involved in helping provide a grant towards the work. The Heritage Lottery Fund, Bedford Borough Council and BedfordBID contributed toward this fund which has been used to upgrade various properties on the High Street – including those opposite 100 High Street (Newsfayre among others) and the Coffee with Art café.
“The THI team have been extremely helpful in enabling us to bring back this building to its former condition. We would like to thank them for all their support,” said Sharan.
The THI is on the agenda at the next BedfordBID Business Breakfast on June 24th. BedfordBID contributed £100,000 of levy-payers money over five years to the total pot to £3 Million.
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