HISTORIC residential and retail buildings in Malmesbury look set to go on to the market after they were repossessed from art collector Frank Faryab.

Excitement is brewing throughout the community from those who are keen to see the dilapidated Grade Two Listed properties, including the Moravian Church, brought back to their former glory.

As reported in the Gazette in September, police were called to Oxford Street to find Mr Faryab embroiled in an argument with bailiffs from Marston Judicial Services Group, who were repossessing the properties due to outstanding debts. Mr Faryab argued that he had not been served a notice but the High Court has overruled him and his properties, including the old laundrette, have been seized.

Concerns have also been raised that some of the properties were falling in to ruin.

Town councillor Simon Killane said: “We got to the stage there where it was nearly dead in Oxford Street, but the bistro has brought life in to the street and then further along now of course is Stewart Shape’s Bird Cage restaurant.

“There are also plans for a new Italian in the old Guildhall Bar which previously was the seed of all sorts of anti-social behaviour, so the street will hopefully become really dynamic with some new shops.”

Mr Faryab is an avid art collector living in Cirencester.

Among his properties were the Moravian Church and graveyard, which has been surrounded by controversy over the years, after gates to the graves were locked. He said: “They have been repossessed; that is correct but, at this moment, I cannot go in to details about it.”