Historic market canopy restoration underway

Specialist metalwork contractor FPE Global has been awarded the contract by Preston City Council to restore the 1875 Market canopy as part of the wider £50m Markets Quarter retail project by Muse Developments.

The £620,000 restoration is expected to take six months and be completed in three phases to ensure continuity of business for the outdoor, car boot and flea market traders.

Works will include refurbishment and painting of cast iron columns and roof structure along with other required repairs to the same standard as have recently been taking place on the Fish Market canopy.

The new colour scheme for the columns – a combination of dark and light greys with pewter, the same as those used on the Fish Market – will pick out the intricate detailing of the ironwork along with a red to highlight the flowers in the ironworks below the roof edge.

The council is also looking at further enhancing its appearance with improved low-energy lighting to show off the refurbished architecture.

Restoration of the larger Market Canopy marks the second phase of the Markets Quarter project which will be delivered in phases over the next couple of years. FPE Global is currently working towards the completion of phase one – the restoration of the Fish Market canopy which started at the beginning of the year and is set to be back in use in May. Later phases will include building the new indoor market hall, under the restored 1875 canopy, and demolition of the current indoor market hall and car park. The Markets Quarter will contain a cinema, restaurant and car park complex on the site of the current indoor market hall and car park.

Frank Whittle Partnership is the architect on the 1875 canopy restoration.