Editing Ludlow (section)

===Recent history===
[[File:ludlow shopper.jpg|thumb|right|A greengrocers' shop amidst Ludlow's narrow streets.]]
By the late 20th century, the town had seen a growth in tourism, leading to the appearance of many [[antique dealer]]s, as well as [[art dealer]]s and independent bookshops (the latter now mostly gone). Bodenhams, a clothing retailer, has been trading from a 600-year-old timbered building since 1860 and is one of the oldest stores in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bodenhams.co.uk|title=Bodenhams website|access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> Ludlow was described by ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' as "the most vibrant small town in England."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiretourism.info/ludlow/|title=Ludlow Tourist Information|access-date=17 September 2007}}</ref>

A long battle of words between local activists (including many of the town's independent businesses) and [[Tesco]] was eventually solved when the mega retailer obtained planning permission to build a supermarket on Corve Street, on the northern edge of the town centre, but only after agreeing to conform to the architectural demands of the local council. The building is designed to follow the outline of the hills in the background, with a curving roof. An [[Aldi]] supermarket was subsequently constructed on a site over the road from Tesco.

A development of 91 houses by South Shropshire Housing Association at Rocks Green won a Sustainable Housing award in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocks Green, Ludlow scoops Sustainable Housing Award |url=https://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/4719440.rocks-green-ludlow-scoops-sustainable-housing-award/ |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser}}</ref> and a [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket at Rocks Green was opened in 2021.<ref name=Sainsburys>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/business/2021/11/26/sainsburys-confirms-opening-date-for-long-awaited-ludlow-store/ Shropshire Star] ''Sainsburys confirms opening date for long awaited Ludlow store'' (26 November 2021)</ref>

In 1983 a small computer magazine started publication in Ludlow by Roger Kean, [[Oliver Frey]] and Franco Frey by [[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] called [[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]. The magazine catered for the various owners of the [[ZX Spectrum]], and its sister magazine ''[[Zzap!64]]'' catered for [[Commodore International|Commodore's]] rival machine [[Commodore 64|the C64]]. The magazine was extremely popular and became Britain's biggest-selling computer magazine in 1986 selling over 100,000 copies monthly. In 1991 Newsfield suffered financial difficulty and the magazines were sold and relaunched by [[Europress]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/interviews/out-of-print/Roger_Kean_interview_part2.html  |title=Roger Kean interview, part 2|publisher=Out of Print Archive|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

In 2004 funding was granted by Advantage West Midlands to build a new 'Eco-Park' on the outskirts of the town on the east side of the [[A49 road|A49]] bypass, at the [[Sheet, Shropshire|Sheet Road]] roundabout, with space for traditional handcraft businesses, new environmentally friendly office buildings and a [[park & ride]] facility. More construction work began in 2006 on the west side of the roundabout on a much-debated pasture land on the town's fringe known as the Foldgate. The land has now been turned over to commercial use with a [[filling station]], [[Travelodge]] hotel and [[pub chain|chain]] pub/restaurant, opened in late 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-18116375  |title=Ludlow hospital plans approved by NHS trust|date=18 May 2012|newspaper=BBC| access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>