Cheshire East ramps up Macclesfield indoor market makeover
With half an eye on meeting tight funding deadlines, the council is seeking to progress the £1.3m refurb of the 1970s facility.
Cheshire East Council has been awarded £1.3m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to refurbish Macclesfield’s indoor market – located within the Grosvenor Centre – money that needs to be spent by March 2025.
Due to this deadline, the council recognises the need to speed up the process of procuring a contractor.
The authority’s economy and growth committee will meet next week to give the green light to start the search for a company to deliver the project.
A report to the committee states: “An extremely tight timetable for delivery of all UKSPF-funded projects is dictated by UKSPF requirements.
“Whilst ongoing design and costing workstreams are not due to be completed until circa June 2024, committee approval to proceed to enter into contract is being sought now, to prevent any unnecessary delay in the process which might jeopardise the project.”
More than a quarter of the market’s 50 stalls are currently vacant and it runs at a loss. The council has recognised several disadvantages facing the indoor market including “uninspiring architecture and limited visibility from public vantage points”, the report states.
The refurbishment of the indoor market forms part of the Macclesfield SRF, drawn up for the council by Cushman & Wakefield, OPEN, and WSP.
Cheshire West and Chester’s redevelopment of Chester Market looks great, and was buzzing when I was there in December; well done them.
By Bob
I agree Bob. I visited just over a year ago. It’s a triumph – difficult to pull off creating the vibe and atmosphere in a new build but Chester have pulled it off.
A great addition to the excellent Storyhouse next door.
By Rye
We need decent shops in Congleton as there’s nothing for people here as its all take aways and pubs cafes no decent market
By Santa
wheres all the stallholders?🤔 not same anymore
need repair the roads they a disgrace
By avril
This is great news! But, please do not charge extortionate rent that puts the onus on stall holders to put their prices up as this just sends punters elsewhere to find cheaper retail outlets.
By Anonymous
I am wondering why the question hasn’t been asked, ‘What is the reason for there being so many empty stalls’?
By Linda Haye
It will never be a success when rents are high. It could be a jewel for the town but the council will over price it. The town is dropping to its knees. Councilors should wise up and try and attract new and old business. Give some incentive to traders. Why not offer the old Marks and Spencers to Morrisons on reduced rates which would bring footfall back into the town, instead of allowing more coffee shops and charity shops. Speculate to accumilate.
By Mac Campbell
Great move will bring more money to the public purse
By Douglas Jackson
CEC can’t do anything quickly as there is too much bureaucracy in the whole process. My company, G F Holding did the original fit out of the indoor market in the 70s – our company brand is still visible on some of the market counters. We are Macclesfield based and would consider the project if approached. Probably too easy a solution though…
By Simon Holding
Shame that this handout of £1.3m couldn’t be spent on keeping the recycling sites open or fixing potholes etc. Something that would benefit the majority of people in Macclesfield rather than a revamped indoor market in a town centre with a declining number of shops still trading.
By Anonymous
Spending money on the indoor market won’t bring people to the town . The whole town needs something doing to it . There’s to many of the same shops.. it’s not inviting anymore. Not even for locals. So visitors will def not find it inviting. ..
By Mrs naylor
I think the many empty shops in the indoor market is a sign that the rents are too high, the empty shops in town is also a sign that the parking charges are also too high. The funds available to revamp the market should be used to repair all the potholes in almost every road in town. I also think too much money was spent on the refurbishment of Castle Street, nice though it is some money from that could have been spent better.
By William Haye
The Council would be better of improving traffic road signage ,and repainting the road markings which areINVISIBLE in many places
By B Smidmore
Another waste of public money. When will our clowns realise the town is dead. We want out of town shopping centres with free parking
By John
The reason why the indoor market is half empty is that the rates are too high, that goes with the rest of the town. Why pour money into a sinking pot that’s not going to recover as the damage is beyond recovery. How many shops have closed down due to rent that they cannot afford. It’s bloody ridiculous.
, how many coffee shops, Vapour shops nail bars does one Town need. Also shops have moved to outside town where you can’t get to unless you have transport!! “It beggers belief, get your act together before Macclesfield really becomes a Ghost Town.
By Tina Walton