We all love Bury Market – it’s absolutely fantastic. Spread over three sites – the Market Hall, Outdoor Market, and the Fish and Meat Hall – it was actually voted Britain’s Favourite Market back in 2019 and has won countless other national and regional awards.
Famed for its Black Pudding stalls, Bury Market is also a great place to pick up meat, fruit and veg and, according to James in the Finest office – some of the freshest and tastiest oysters in the North West.
This week, the historic attraction has been awarded the maximum grant allowed under the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with plans to build a new ‘flexi-hall’ and help regenerate the surrounding areas.
A culmination of two years’ hard work by their Market Task Force, news of the grant has been welcomed by market traders, customers and visitors alike and will help secure the long-term future of the market.
The plans for the grant include a new Market ‘Flexi Hall’ – a large, state-of-the-art carbon neutral multi-functional events space that can support not just market stalls but also pop-ups, live performances, and community events.
It’ll also include a café and bar, flexible workspace and an area dedicated to workshops and small business start ups.
The Flexi Hall will also be used to expand on the diversity of the groups who use the market, by introducing wellbeing programmes, cultural performances and events and offering enterprise initiatives focusing on digital skills, business and linking closely with students and graduates of Bury College.
In addition, improvement works will look to improve market kiosks, increase access and servicing and add a brand-new oversailing canopy which will cover the existing market.
The plans also include measures to improve the environmental performance of the market, through enhanced recycling infrastructure, energy efficiency improvements and the decarbonisation of existing structures.
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “Bury Market is rightly described as the jewel in Bury’s crown, which is why we did so much to support traders through the coronavirus pandemic. This investment – plus nearly £5m more from Bury Council – will bring regeneration and prosperity both to the market and the wider town centre area.
“We can now move forward at pace and ensure that our historic market is in the best place to thrive, modernise and meet the challenges of today such as online shopping and customers’ changing preferences, providing additional facilities for the community in the town centre.
“Further consultation will now take place with market traders, customers and the wider public and other stakeholders to ensure the development delivers for the people of Bury as outlined in the bid.
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For more information on the grant and the market in general, visit Bury Market’s website below…
