A FORMER chapel in Abergavenny could be renovated to bring the building back into productive use as both retail and exhibition space REPORTS ANDY SHERWILL.

The former Bethany Baptist Chapel in Market Street has had numerous uses since it ceased being used as a place of worship in 1990 - most recently as a site office for the Brewery Yard redevelopment.

And now a refurbishment of the Grade II listed property is being proposed by the owner Pauline Griffiths, who is seeking grant aid funding to offset some of the estimated building costs of £256,738.

The building, which was originally constructed in 1883, has been included as part of the Brewery Yard Regeneration's Property Improvement Scheme and been allocated funds to financially support restoration by the local authority.

This week Monmouthshire County Council is seeking members' approval to award a grant of £50,801.90, towards the proposed property improvements.

Cadw, the Welsh heritage body has already confirmed its approval of the scheme and allocated a grant valued at £50,000 from their Historic Building Fund.

The investment in the building, which was once the town's Museum of Childhood and was the original base for Homemakers Community Recycling, will help improve the economic sustainability of the immediate Brewery Yard area through the creation of six full time jobs.

Phase two of the project to fit out the upper and lower levels for the purpose of retail and display is to be fully funded and carried out by the owner.

The applicant has been told that to comply with grant funding rules arrangements for disabled access in line with current and relevant legislation and regulations need to be met and that all renovation work should be completed by December 2012.