Rossendale scales back Bacup Market plans

Citing worries over construction costs and viability, Rossendale Council has opted to rework the revamp of the market – delaying the Levelling Up Fund project by a year.

Rossendale Council had unveiled its initial designs for the market last year. Drawn up by Market Curators and Frank Whittle Partnership, the project called for the building of a two-storey market hall called Temple Court on the current market site between Market Street, Union Street and Tower Street in the town centre. At the time, the completion date was set for 2026.

The previous design for Temple Court. Credit: via Viva PR

However, since then the local authority has redesigned the project to increase the amount of public realm and decrease the scheme’s price tag. The latest designs, drafted by CODA Architecture, are to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

These plans retain the Temple Court name but focus more on revitalising the existing market space than on building something new.

The work programme includes adding a market canopy, upgrading the 11 existing market spaces, and redeveloping one of the market blocks to house public toilets and a cycle store. There would also be disabled parking and dedicated loading zones added to the market site.

A market square would be created, offering a space for pop-up markets and other events. Landscaped stepped seating would allow people to sit as they indulged in market fare or watched performances on the square.

This square would also help improve the market’s visibility from Market Street.

If the local authority votes to approve the designs this week, a public consultation exercise will start later this month with an eye towards submitting a planning application in October.

The Levelling Up Fund money comes with a 2027 deadline, so, in order to meet that, the council will look to start a procurement exercise for a contractor in November and appoint the main contractor in January 2026.

Providing planning permission is granted in January 2026 and the main contractor found, the project could complete in March 2027.

Bacup Market is not the only Levelling Up Fund project that Rossendale Council has had to push back. Its Rawtenstall South Gyratory scheme has also been shifted to having a 2027 completion date after undergoing its own design changes.

Across the country, Levelling Up Fund projects have been struggling to meet initial 2026 deadlines. The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government issued a report earlier this summer describing how 95% of Levelling Up Fund projects the department had data on were behind schedule.