Contractor appointed for Haslingden Market refurb
Aura Heritage is aiming to be on site before the end of March having been recruited by Rossendale Council for the revamp of heritage market.
The redevelopment of Haslingden Market, designed by Wilson Mason, is being funded by £200,000 from council coffers and £300,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Haslingden will be the first of three Rossendale markets – the other two Bacup and Rawtenstall – to be extensively refurbished over the next two years.
An open-air ‘flexible area’ is to be constructed, which is hoped will be used for music and theatre performances with temporary seating, mini-festivals and one-off artisan markets.
To make way for these two areas the fix-table-top stalls will be demolished and replaced with picnic-style tables. A new steel structure and roof will create cover for the benches.
Four cabins along one side will be used by permanent stallholders selling traditional market fare, while another will be available for occasional traders.
Wilson Mason has designed the market proposals. Credit: via Viva
Cllr Adrian Lythgoe, lead member for environment and corporate services at Rossendale Council, said: “Refurbishing the market is a vital part of the regeneration of Haslingden Town Centre.
“It creates a valuable opportunity to grow the local economy and to provide affordable premises for new businesses as well as providing a much-needed community area where people can meet and socialise.
Lythgoe added: “As can be seen around the country, and locally at Rawtenstall, the success of modern markets is the provision of food. And I am sure that the wide variety of quality food and drink offerings at the market will be very popular.”
The market is expected to be closed for around eight weeks while the work takes place.
