Wolverhampton market set for new home

WOLVERHAMPTON’S market is to get a new long-term home as plans for the £55m Westside regeneration scheme are finalised.
 
Its current Market Square location is to be absorbed into the new leisure-led development by preferred developer Urban & Civic.
 
The overall scheme will feature a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, hotel, multi-storey car park, apartments, and public realm. It will be built in two phases over a five-year period.
 
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.
 
The market will now be relocated to Southside and will front Cleveland Street, providing increased footfall from the Wulfrun Centre and transport Interchange, as well as situating it in a student catchment area.
 
The former Netto store and adjoining buildings were cleared from the site last year, paving the way for the move, which will see 48 tented stalls and 16 purpose-built cabins transferred from Market Square.
 
It is anticipated the move will be completed in winter 2017/18 – but not during the Christmas trade period.
 
Cllr Steve Evans, cabinet member for City Environment, said: “The council is proud to be the beneficiary of a legally-binding Royal Charter, which commits us to holding a weekly market in the city centre.
 
“Relocating the market to Southside will not only pave the way for a first-class leisure development on Westside, it will also allow the market to thrive in a new, prominent city centre location.
 
“The feedback we have had from initial discussions with the market traders has been positive.”
 
Market traders’ representative, Dud Malik, added: “The new site proposal is in a much better central location for the market traders within the city centre.
 
“It is nearer the transport links; the metro and bus station, car parks; and the newly redeveloped Mander Centre.
 
“The traders are all looking forward to a fresh start, and benefiting from additional footfall from new customers, as well as retaining existing ones at the city’s new market.”