Historic market hall revamp finish date slips into late summer

The completion date for an £11million revamp of an East Lancashire heritage-listed Victorian market hall has slipped from the end of this month until late summer or even autumn this year.

The delay about the works at Accrington Market Hall is revealed in a report to Hyndburn Council’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The document by the authority’s heritage boss Cllr Kimberley Whitehead recommends that the full rent for Accrington Market stallholders currently decanted into cabins on the square in front of the hall is waived.

It urges the senior councillors to approve a a 100 per cent reduction to the current rent and licence fees applied to market traders in the temporary market cabins on the town square.

It would apply for a period of 12 months from April 1 or until the 19 temporary market cabins are removed from the town square for the Market Hall reopening, whichever comes first.

The main Grade II heritage-listed Victorian Market Hall is currently undergoing a major £11m renovation originally scheduled to be finished in March but now expected to last until at least July and possibly later,

Cllr Whitehead’s report says: “There are no concessions for the current storage unit rents or service charges for the temporary market cabins and these will still be payable at the current rates.

“The current leases for traders in the cabins on the town square will expire at the end of March so it is critical that new leases are agreed and signed prior to the start of the new financial year.

“Trading conditions on the high streets are still extremely difficult and whilst some of the market traders on the square report an improvement due to the market’s temporary location, others have signalled a decline in footfall levels due to the redevelopment works around the town square, the weather conditions, general downturn in the economy and sharp rise in the cost of living.

“I have received requests from market traders asking the council to revisit rent and service charges or risk some traders simply leaving the cabins as they are unable to make a living.

“The council could let the current rent/licence fee concessions expire and traders find alternative locations to trade.

“However, this is not recommended because the indoor market hall is not anticipated to reopen until Quarter Three 2025/26 or may slip into Quarter Four.

“Whilst there is no guarantee all traders will wish to return/be accepted by the new market hall operator, the temporary cabins are not planned to be removed until Quarter Three or Quarter Four.

“The council could look to retain the current level of concessions.

“This is not recommended given the tough trading conditions whilst the town square development is ongoing, particularly as members wish to maintain a town centre market offering to residents and maintain footfall into the town centre.

“The proposed rent concession will reduce income levels for the market budget next financial year by circa £35,000 and it is unlikely any efficiency or other cost savings within the market service budget will offset this.”