Kirklees Council expects to fork out almost half a million pounds moving Dewsbury market traders to a new, temporary location.
Last week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that plans to revamp Dewsbury market were taking the next steps, with the council planning to decant traders at a temporary site next Spring while works get underway. The move will see the council make use of some of the 53 shipping containers purchased for £800,000 back in 2021 which have spent years sitting on a Dewsbury car park.
Twenty-eight containers will be used for replacement stalls in total, with the majority already allocated to existing market traders. Others will be used for refrigerated storage and a switch room, and an information hub. The temporary market will be located across Market Place, Longcauseway and Foundry Street.
Given the costs involved, we wanted to know what would be happening to the remaining 25 containers that weren’t mentioned in the council’s plans, and just how much the relocation would cost.
Cllr Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, explained: “Since we first laid out our plans for the regeneration of Dewsbury market in 2021, requirements for the temporary market have changed. Since those first plans, we’ve taken the time to consider the regeneration, and make sure it’s the right thing for the town as well as being financially viable – not just reducing costs but incorporating a brand new town park.
“As the plans for the decant have changed, we’ve already repurposed or sold a number of the containers originally secured for the project. We’re actively exploring more opportunities like this, to make the most of our previous investment, and to reinvest the money to contribute to making the temporary market a vibrant destination in the town centre.
“The current estimated cost for the decant of the market is around £475,000, allowing trading to continue seamlessly while construction work takes place. We’ll soon be moving forward with procuring a contractor to complete the work, and we’ll provide updates as the project continues.”
Construction work on the main market site is expected to take around 18 to 24 months, and the temporary market will remain in the town centre throughout. During this time, the temporary market will trade at full capacity three days a week – but the council hopes to have some form of presence at the market up to five days every week, including a second hand market every Friday
The regeneration of Dewsbury Market and creation of a town park are key features in the Dewsbury Blueprint – the council’s overarching masterplan for investment in Dewsbury town centre. It aims to give people more reason to visit the town and spend time there from day to night.
Planning permission has already been secured for major improvements to the existing Dewsbury Market site, allowing the market and town park to sit side by side. The council says it hopes to make a safer, more pleasant area with lots of opportunities for different markets and events, while retaining the character of the historic market building.
