Grant enables facelift work to begin on historic town asset

Goole’s Market Hall has started to receive a much-anticipated facelift thanks to funding from the Goole Town Deal Board.

Scaffolding currently surrounds the historic market hall as exterior repairs and maintenance work takes place to protect and preserve the fabric of the building from further deterioration.

These are initial works, which are hoped will lead to a long-term reinvention.

In September 2020, the Government offered the 101 towns invited to take part in the Town Deal process an early grant payment which has allowed them to accelerate capital investment, to be delivered by this financial year.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council will be overseeing the money’s distribution as the accountable body for the Town Deal Board.

The market hall, in its current condition, could not be brought back into use, but the Board has invested £190,000 into phase one renovation works to prevent further increased repair costs to the fabric of the building.

Phase two intentions include interior improvements to the commercial floor space and energy efficiency enhancement of the building.

The Goole Town Deal Board will submit a Town Investment Plan to the Government at the end of January, and part of that plan includes a range of evidence-based interventions, including phase two works planned for the Market Hall.

Joseph Richardson, chairman of the Goole Town Deal Board, said: “This investment and development in the quality and diversity of one of Goole’s most popular vacant heritage assets is a fantastic opportunity to re-ignite civic pride in the town centre, especially at a time when resident, business and consumer confidence is essential.

“The chance to intervene and secure funding to begin the renovation was essential for the longer-term, greater potential for the building.

“Without this grant it is highly likely it would remain vacant and deteriorate further.”

Margaret Hicks Clarke, chairman of Goole Civic Society, said: “These works represent confidence in a new future for Goole’s most architecturally impressive heritage buildings, which sits in the heart of the town centre.

“Bringing the building back into use could create a legacy that supports cultural expansion, skills and entrepreneurship.”

Councillor Victoria Aitken, portfolio holder for economic development and inward investment at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The Market Hall was identified as an important anchor in the Town Centre Conservation Area Management and Maintenance Plan in 2020.

“This has been echoed by findings from a public survey conducted by Goole Civic Society which confirmed the building’s importance to the town centre.”

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has appointed Hobson and Porter as the main contractor for the phase one works at the Market Hall, following a competitive tender process under the YORBuild framework.