Leicester's indoor market in line for £7m revamp

[davieG]

Merc

By Dan Martin

Plans to demolish Leicester's 1970s indoor market and replace it with a new public square in thecity centre have been unveiled.

Under the £7 million scheme, the five-storey hall would make way for a plaza behind the Corn Exchange building in the heart of the market.

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  Plans for the revamped market
  

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A new timber and glass pavilion – housing the fish, meat and cheese traders – would be built on the side of the 19th century building, now used as a bar, in the area which was only recently unveiled as the £650,000 Market Corner development by Leicester City Council.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby had originally intended to replace the market hall with a new building on the same site, but said he felt the scheme unveiled yesterday would make the historic Corn Exchange the central focus of the market once again.

The council intends to borrow cash to pay for the redevelopment against the £650,000 annual income the market brings in.

Sir Peter said: "The market has been at the heart of the city for many centuries and it does make us a surplus, so it makes business sense to invest in it.

"To say the current building is looking tired would be about the politest thing you could say about it.

"It was never a brilliant building and while it may have looked good on paper many years ago, it has never really worked.

"It is dark and badly ventilated. It's now time to move on."

The pavilion will take in the nine fresh meat, fish and cheese vendors who currently operate in the market hall, and a new area of lock-up stalls is proposed for the 29 other traders who sell so-called dry-goods – such as haberdashery – in the corner of the market closest to the iron gateway to Gallowtree Gate.

Adrian Pole, who runs Country Fayre, has worked at the indoor market for 30 years and welcomes the scheme.

"The traders work in a building that is almost derelict," said Mr Pole.

"It's awful and we survive only because we have a very loyal customer base.

"Moving to the new building would be a platform to increase trade and I think it could draw visitors back into the area."

Fruit and veg stall holder Paddy Deevey, who is chairman of the Leicester Branch of the National Market Traders Federation, said: "The market has needed this kind of investment for many years.

"It will not only improve things for the traders, though.

"The market has a knack of surviving, but the area around the periphery is in need of brightening up and I think these plans look exciting."

Haberdasher Dave Swingler said: "Something needs doing. As the market hall has degenerated, trade has fallen away but I think this could turn things round."

Sir Peter said he does not plan to raise the rates traders paid when they move into the new hall.

He said: "It would be suicidal for the council to do all this and then put the rents up to a level that makes traders walk away."

The vintage market and bric-a-brac market which is held on Market Corner would move to Cheapside until the new square between the Corn Exchange and Molly O'Grady's pub is completed. Then it may move to that space.

Subject to getting planning permission, the council hopes to complete the new food hall, which has been designed on the line of similar buildings in Barcelona and Madrid, by Christmas next year.

The traders in the existing market hall would then relocate to allow its demolition, costing £1 million, without disrupting their business.

Leicester Civic Society chairman Stuart Bailey said: "It's certainly ambitious. I applaud the idea but I think the design of the new building looks odd.

"It's all curves in a place which has very angular buildings. I also think the new square would be a bit hemmed in by very tall buildings."

Shopper John Barratt, 61, from Aylestone, said: "A public square sandwiched between two pubs sounds like it's asking for trouble.

"It's fine wanting something like Barcelona, but this is Leicester. You can't turn it into something it's not."

However, pet stall holder Kate Chamberlin said: "I think it's great. The fresh food is a great draw for the market, but for years it has been hidden away in a building that is a mess. This will help us all."

Chairman of the Leicester Retail Forum Peter Wilkinson said: "It looks good, but I think the mayor is proposing something very complex, especially at the back of the Corn Exchange."

Traders are now being consulted on the plan with a wider six week public consultation starting on January 11.

[DJMadness29]

Think its about time to be honest. The indoor market is rank to put it nicely.

[Captain...]

Lets hope it is a better use of money than the train station upgrade, 6 million to make it less convenient and accessible.

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Can't be nearly as bad an investment as the Birstall Park and Ride. Never more than about 10 cars in the car park and it cost a fortune

[The People's Hero]

Pointless, counter productive wastes of money? You guys want to spend a few hours checking out the works undertaken in Maidstone in the past 5 years (I do understand that you actually don't)

[James.]

Can't be nearly as bad an investment as the Birstall Park and Ride. Never more than about 10 cars in the car park and it cost a fortune

And it spoilt the view from my Dad's spare bedroom.

Never understood the need for that park and ride, which has since been borne out by the fact that no fúcker uses it.

[lavrentis]

I think it's good the way it is tbh

[Guest MattP]

Can't polish a turd.

The picture made me laugh though, the custimers hanging round the market are certainly not that white and middle class.

[purpleronnie]

You can't help yourself can you Matt.

[notnow john]

Can't polish a turd.

The picture made me laugh though, the custimers hanging round the market are certainly not that white and middle class.

I was going to make a point about the silver arcade but I can't take it seriously now!

[Guest MattP]

You can't help yourself can you Matt.

I'm surprised you managed to not come in and tell us Leicester market is nicer than 90% of markets you have been to.

[jonthefox]

Iv'e lost count of the times iv'e seen this type of story and nothing ever happens.

[BlueSi13]

Personally i've always been in favour in scrapping both the indoor and outdoor markets in that location, and replace it with a grand continental style square. If you look at the grand old buildings surrounding the market, i think with investment it could look genuinely beautiful. Instead we seem to resist getting rid of a smelly and dirty market which nobody really uses.

[pSinatra]

Can't be nearly as bad an investment as the Birstall Park and Ride. Never more than about 10 cars in the car park and it cost a fortune

Enderby Park & Ride was £9 million & averages around 300 users a day

Birstall Park & Ride was £5.5 million & averages less than 200 users a day

It's difficult to say which one is the biggest waste of money. If a field of tarmac & an extra large bus stop costs this sort of money, I can't see £7 million on the indoor market going far.

[acooling08]

Just seems like another waste of money to me.

Just take the £7 million and re-distribute it either back to the taxpayer, or to fund more important things in Leicester like our schools and hospitals.

Agree with Matt about the concept art, the demographic of shoppers shown is very much wishful thinking.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

And it spoilt the view from my Dad's spare bedroom.

Never understood the need for that park and ride, which has since been borne out by the fact that no fúcker uses it.

Your old boy must live a stone's throw from my gaff. First the chippy in Birstall starts doing kebabs and quality goes out the window - now this.

[BunkMoreland]

Personally i've always been in favour in scrapping both the indoor and outdoor markets in that location, and replace it with a grand continental style square. If you look at the grand old buildings surrounding the market, i think with investment it could look genuinely beautiful. Instead we seem to resist getting rid of a smelly and dirty market which nobody really uses.

I like this idea. It'll never get past the 'old means untouchable' brigade though. Plus it would cost a fortune for little immediate return.

[1964FOX]

I like this idea. It'll never get past the 'old means untouchable' brigade though. Plus it would cost a fortune for little immediate return.

You can't get rid of the Market it's been there hundreds of years

[jonthefox]

You can't get rid of the Market it's been there hundreds of years

There was talk of moving it to Humberstone gate once.

[1964FOX]

There was talk of moving it to Humberstone gate once.

Yes the bastards tried that in the 1750's and were hung for being ye olde ******. So think on those who want to change tradition, it's called Gallowtree gate for a reason.

[Parafox]

And it spoilt the view from my Dad's spare bedroom.

Never understood the need for that park and ride, which has since been borne out by the fact that no fúcker uses it.

It's in ahead of major expansion of Birstall. Just wait and see.

[davieG]

Update with animation of Leicester market revamp

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Architects-produce-animation-Leicester-market/story-17828415-detail/story.html