Wolverhampton submits application for new market
City of Wolverhampton Council has revealed more of its bold vision for the city’s new market.
The council announced in January the relocation of the market from Market Square. It has now submitted a planning application for the new Southside facility, which will front Cleveland Street.
It has also released a new image of how the facility will look.
The council is hoping to build on the momentum secured at last week’s MIPIM event in Cannes, when the city promoted much of its ongoing regeneration to investors.
The council said it had already received dozens of enquiries from prospective traders interested in being part of the new market. Enquiries have come in from bakers, jewellers, hairdressers, children’s clothing and cosmetics retailers, plus food outlets.
It is intended to complement the ongoing regeneration by adding footfall to the Wulfrun Centre and transport Interchange. It also hopes to capitalise on the market’s position within the student catchment area.
The council has promised that existing city centre traders will have first refusal on obtaining licenses at the new market, which will benefit from bigger cabins, a secure site, CCTV, integrated lighting and power, free WiFi, canopy-covered walkways, offices, customer toilets, and comprehensive parking and storage facilities.
Traders have also been consulted over a servicing strategy to move stock with a dedicated motorised truck, which will keep on-site vehicles to a minimum and create a safer retail space for customers.
This model operates successfully at other markets across the country.
Cllr Steve Evans, cabinet member for City Environment, said: “We are consulting regularly with the current traders over the relocation – and we will be announcing exciting new traders in the coming months.
“Their addition will provide a more varied range of sales lines to differentiate it from a traditional market offer.
“This ideal location, funded by the sale of Market Square as part of the Westside scheme, has loads of potential – and we want this to be the people’s market, where events are also encouraged.”
The former Netto store and adjoining buildings were cleared from the Southside site last year, paving the way for the move, which will see 48 tented stalls and 16 purpose-built cabins transferred from Market Square in phases.
It is anticipated the move will be completed in winter 2017/18 – but not during the Christmas trade period.
The Market Square location is to be absorbed into the new £55m leisure-led Westside development by preferred developer Urban & Civic.
This will deliver a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, hotel, multi-storey car park, apartments, and public realm to the heart of the city centre, in two phases, over five years.
A temporary market has been in place since April last year when the indoor traders joined the outdoor traders in Market Square to enable the demolition of Heantun House and the old indoor market.
