WORK on Bradford’s new city centre market building began yesterday.

The £21 million market will be built in place of the former Marks & Spencer building on Darley Street.

Yesterday contractors arrived on the site to begin the strip out of the former department store in preparation for its demolition early next year.

Green light for one of Bradford’s biggest regeneration projects as Darley Street market plan approved

Work will then start to build a multi storey market hall and outdoor city square.

Building work is expected to be completed in 2021, with the market opening in 2022. Once the new market opens, Oastler Market would be closed, demolished and replaced with a new “urban village”.

It is hoped that the Darley Street market would help rejuvenate an area of the city that has been beset by shop closures.