Preston market hall on track for December opening

Preston’s new market hall is on target for completion in early December this year, the council has said.

The £3m development, headed by Preston-based contractor Conlon, has been underway since January. A target opening date of Monday 4 December has been set by the council, with up to 32 stalls available for traders to rent. The last day of trading for the current market is due on Saturday 2 December.

A steel structure installation was completed in July which formed the skeleton of the building and ducting for services and drainage works has also finished.  Concrete has been poured across the floors and the process for fitting glazed curtain walling is already underway, due to be finished later this month.  Aluminium frames that will support the glass are being fitted to the new steel structure, which will then be painted following the installation of the glazing. This process is expected to take between four to six weeks.

The new market hall, which is located under part of the larger historic covered market, was designed by Preston-based Frank Whittle Partnership alongside architect Greig & Stephenson Associates. The redevelopment is part of the £50m Markets Quarter project, which will see developer Muse demolish the current market hall from spring 2018. Muse will then begin building an 11-screen cinema, as well as a 593-space car park for the city.

According to a statement from the council, as there are still construction risks in the programme, the target opening date may change.