The first step in an ambitious £17.5m scheme to transform Barrow Market Hall has been taken.
Demolition of the vacant unit at 56 Portland Walk began on Tuesday as part of a plan to turn the market into a ‘modern community hub’.
New bays for stallholders, a food hall and activity areas are to be added during a project financed by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
“This is a huge deal for Barrow Market Hall and our town centre,” said Jacqui Armstrong, manager at Barrow Market Hall.
“In other parts of the country, refurbished markets have brought new businesses to the surrounding area and revived town centres. We’re looking forward to seeing the same thing happen here in Barrow.”
She described the project as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ and anticipated exciting times ahead for traders and customers.
“The market will become a modern community hub where people can meet up to chat over drinks and food and enjoy a bright, vibrant place to shop locally,” she said.
As part of the project, the exterior of the market will be given a new look, and a shared entrance will be created between the market and The Forum theatre in Duke Street.
The market square is also set to be improved – to become an ‘exciting, flexible space for a range of events and activities’ – courtesy of the Brilliant Barrow project, behind which is money from the Government’s Towns Fund.
Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, said on a previous occasion: “The regeneration projects we have ahead of us are extremely rare at this scale and provide us with the opportunity to change the way we think about and use our town centre in the future.
“While work to remove 56 Portland Walk is only in preparation for these schemes, it is still a positive step towards our goal to create a town centre that thrives for years to come.”
Ms Armstrong said work on the market hall would begin early next year.
