Greatie Market overhaul sets ball rolling on Liverpool North new town
The more than 200-year-old market off Great Homer Street has been earmarked as the centre point of a housing, transport, and green space regeneration initiative in Vauxhall and West Everton.
Liverpool City Council has been recommended to approve the procurement of consultants to begin detailed design work for an updated and expanded Greatie Market.
A demolition contractor to clear vacant industrial units, and a design and build contractor for the £4.9m project, which is set to kickstart the development within the prospective new town, Liverpool North, are also sought.
After the city council elects to delegate authority over the procurements to the corporate director of city development, a full procurement process will begin, followed by a planning application with the aim for construction to start in Q3 2026.
Greatie Market, established in 1821 and still operating with more than 200 stalls, is the key to Liverpool North’s regeneration.
The city council wants to refurbish and extend both the indoor and outdoor elements of the market to allow for better customer amenities and provide more space for F&B vendors.
An expanded and retractable seating area will provide space for more covers but would be flexible enough to host community events or additional stalls, while a canopy would be installed over external seating.
An indicative plan of the market site. Credit: via committee documents
Currently, the area surrounding the market is blighted by derelict, council-owned industrial units off Rachel Street and Dryden Street, and to the north of the Central Tin site, which draws anti-social behaviour and is of little public value, the council said.
Improved access, planting, lighting, and public art are envisioned for the area once the dilapidated buildings are cleared.
Finally, a memorandum of understanding is expected to be initiated between the city council and housing association Torus, the two major landholders in the vicinity.
The city council has stated that other formal and informal partnerships may be agreed in order to meet housing delivery ambitions.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority applied to the Department of Housing, Communities & Local Government for Liverpool North’s New Town status last year, but the decision remains under consideration by the New Towns Taskforce advisory group.
Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy, Liverpool City Council, said: “The transformation of Greatie Market is a key element of the city council’s broader Liverpool North New Town vision, and will act as a catalyst for further investment and community-led growth.
“Ultimately, the ambition is to repopulate, reconnect, and regenerate the area through housing, transport, and public realm improvements.
The decision is to be discussed by Liverpool City Council’s cabinet next week, and plans have been supported by £5m of Strategic Futures funding, granted in 2023.
Cllr Small continued: “The new area would act as a key landmark between the city centre and Bootle – connecting the Liverpool City Region and revitalising a large number of communities in the North.
“This is about creating a thriving, inclusive future for North Liverpool – one that honours its heritage while unlocking its full potential for generations to come.”
Along with their plan to spend millions on narrowing the strand further, this is the council’s second regurgitation of what’s gone before. “Greatie” market is their invention, just as the present Strand traffic Jams are too.
Is someone at the council just lifting old plans and tipexing the date?
What next? A superficial makeover for Moorfield’s main entrance?…
By John
A new indoor area something along the lines of the new Chester Market would be ideal here as this would make people stay around and socialise. Great Homer St or Paddy’s Market as it was best known was a marvel, selling everything you could imagine and back in the day was a destination for sailors from all over the world, and you would rub shoulders with men from India, Africa, South America, many in traditional clothing. The whole of Scotland Rd should be buzzing so hearing of re-population is positive, there needs to be 4 storey buildings along the high street with good, modern terraced housing to the side-streets.
By Anonymous
They destroyed Greatie Market – and now they are going to improve it? Its not a patch on what it was when over the road when I used to go as a small child. A lot of the stalls have gone/given up as the traders don’t like the new set up think its too cramped – and whoever thinks there is 200 stalls is unable to count! Whilst on the subject of markets there needs to be consideration of London Road Market and how this is being left to wither – with the new Monument Place works and the cycle lanes planned for construction – they really should be accommodating the traders and making sure the market survives – if they are going to build a ‘market square’.
By Lizzy Baggot
Need to see talk turning into action here , eg remember the plans for Williamson Square from a few years back,zero has happened and if the Council think a few trees and flowerbeds will change things for the better they’re mistaken as most of the square needs rebuilding. Went past the Playhouse today and there’s someone camped outside in a tent then a few yards away the former GH Lee building is decaying before our eyes.
By Anonymous
Totally agree with Anonymous – William Square, St John’s Gardens, Lime Street, London Road should all marry up should be able to walk from Willliamson Square up to London Road and there should be a green corridor. Williamson Square and the area outside the museums and gallery along with the square at the top of London Road could be fantastic – I am of the understanding that Liverpool City Council have more than one ‘mood board’ for hard landscaping – surely these areas should match – Pudsey Street the side entrance to Lime Street is a disgrace and needs the money spending there instead of cycle lanes for London Road that cyclists will probably bypass to shortcut. The decision to grant planning permission for change of use from student to YMCA could further exacerbate the issues with the people preying on the women in the Ann Fowlers ladies housing – extra to prey on. Someone needs to take a big step back and look at it as a whole including Greatie and Scotland Road – as that is looking pitiful!
By Lizzy Baggot