WORK on a new town centre market has begun in a milestone moment.
The £3 million project in Brighouse is being delivered by Calderdale Council and the Brighouse Town Deal Board. While work is carried out, traders have a temporary home close by.
Demolition of the existing building on the canalside site at Ship Street has already begun, with West Yorkshire-based Triton Construction leading on construction of the new market on behalf of the Council.
The Council took on the market in 2018. Before that, it had been privately owned, and operated on land rented from the Council, but the owners did not wish to continue running it.
When complete the transformed permanent market building will have 21 fixed stalls, each with water, drainage, and power. There will be space to sit, rest and meet, supporting the Council’s aspiration to open the market on more days of the week in the future.
The market will include 19 additional pop-up stalls, which can be removed to accommodate small events.
Other features include secure, decorative gates, new cycle parking outside, and new entrances and exits to provide better connections to the town.
Work is expected to take around a year and, during that time, the market will continue to trade from a temporary site on Daisy Street car park.
It’s already home to the usual stallholders ensuring the food, drinks, crafts, and other items on sale each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday remain available, said Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Sarah Courtney.
“As project lead for the transformation of the market in Brighouse, we’re delighted to see work underway on this exciting project.
“The improvements will transform the building into a modern, new facility, benefiting traders and shoppers, with the potential to allow for increased opening.
“The market project is one part of a package of investment across the town centre which includes new pedestrian areas, resurfacing of roads and footways and new seating and planting.
“These improvements, being delivered in partnership with the Town Deal Board, will make Brighouse an even better place to visit,” said Cllr Courtney.
Colin Gordon, member of the Brighouse Town Deal Board and owner of Colin’s Cafe on Brighouse Market, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who has crossed Anchor Bridge to find us in Daisy Street car park, in our temporary home.
“It has been brilliant to see familiar and new faces as we continue to serve the community. Please keep supporting us as we watch the work going on at the permanent Canalside site.”
