Demolition of Preston Indoor Market moves closer

Following the completion of the city’s new covered market, demolition work on Preston’s 1970s Indoor Market is due to begin in the summer to make way for a £50m cinema, leisure, and retail development.

The demolition of the indoor market was originally slated to begin in March but is now likely to start this August after the Indoor Market’s existing traders have been decanted into the newly-constructed covered market, completed by Conlon earlier this year.

Muse is the development partner for the site, and is planning to build an 11-screen cinema, seven family restaurants, and a 593-space multi-storey car park on the site of the Indoor Market.

Demolition works, which are expected to run until August 2019, include extensive asbestos removal, drainage works, repairs to some existing structures, and demolition down to the existing ground floor slab. The façade of the existing Lancastria House will be retained as part of the plans.

Construction of the cinema, to be anchored by The Light, is likely to begin in Autumn next year once demolition works complete.

Designed by architect Benoy, the plans were granted consent in November 2016. The professional team also includes CBRE as planner, Curtins as civil engineering and transport consultant, and Waterman Group as building services and structural engineer.

The refurbished grade-two listed Market Hall opened its doors in February this year following a £3m restoration and expansion. Traders already at the market include a craft beer bar, a fishmonger, butcher, a Caribbean food stall, a jeweller, a cheesemonger, and flower sellers.

Around 75% of the space inside the market has been allocated for food and drink usage.