Page 16 - Market Times October 2024

16 MARKET TIMES • OCTOBER 2024 Bradford’s new market opening
delayed until ‘next spring’
The market has been built on the site of a former Marks and Spencer store on what is a hilly city centre street, which complicated construction. Photo: Keir
BRADFORD’S new flagship market building has been completed and the project is now in the fit-out stage. But the new Darley Street Market will now not open until “early” 2025 in time for Brad- ford’s year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture 2025.
The market, built on the site of the former Marks & Spencer building, was originally planned nine years ago as a way of reviving the retail heart of the West Yorkshire city which had been affected by the opening of The Broadway Shopping Centre further away.
It will replace the city’s two existing markets, Kirkgate and the Oastler Centre. Work began on the market in April 2021 and Bradford Council announced that the construction work had been completed in June when there was an official handover by the contractor Kier.
But the council now says the opening has been put back until
early next year, citing “complexities of construction” as the reason. The market project will need an extra £2.4 million on top of the £27 million already spent because of changes to the design, a more complicated demolition process and work that was needed to secure neighbouring buildings.
The new market will feature three trading floors as well as a cultural space for live music, arts and entertainment. Built on a significant slope, the market will have a food and drinks hall with a bar area on the top floor. there will be a stage and large screens for events, as well as a balcony overlooking a new open air market square.
The middle floor will have fresh food stalls including butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers and delicatessens. Non-food stalls will be on the ground floor, alongside cafes that will open out on the the market square.
The square will be able to accommodate around 500 with a big screen for events and concerts.
The iron gates from the original Victorian Kirkgate Market are a feature at the new Darley Street complex. Photo: Bradford Council