A £17.5 million redevelopment of Barrow’s Market Hall has been shelved – and the buildings will be demolished instead.
Traders at Barrow’s market hall have been told that their base will not reopen – and the town’s Forum will also not reopen.
Westmorland & Furness Council said the 55-year-old buildings had reached the end of their lives and it was no longer viable to retain them.
Experts have carried out detailed assessments on the buildings, the authority said, which showed that to reopen either or both of the buildings – even temporarily – would lead to expensive and extensive remedial work.
It added: “Wet weather has also highlighted some immediate issues with significant leaks in the roof of the market, which has brought forward plans to close the whole building.
“The council has concluded that the leaks are likely to get worse and as such it is no longer viable to keep the market building open.”
The authority said it told traders yesterday, Tuesday February 17.
It added: “This has been a difficult decision that has a significant impact upon the market traders and to ensure that they are supported the council has immediately put in place a dedicated team to support them over the coming weeks.
“A sudden closure is never welcome, and we would like to provide assurance that this is not a decision taken likely.
“While the longer-term proposals are developed we have exciting ‘meanwhile’ plans being worked up with local stakeholders and we look forward to sharing more on this soon as decisions on this and the proposed demolition work are considered by cabinet next month.”
In 2023, the council said it was embarking on a £17.5m revamp of the market hall. In 2024, additional investigations found asbestos in the hall and an extra £6m was earmarked to help it be removed.
The work prompted the proposed closure of the next-door Forum from last year for up to two years, as the machinery would cause vibrations.
The council has now scrapped the plans and said as part of an ambitious multi-million-pound town centre transformational Heart of Barrow project plans were being proposed that would see the Forum and market hall buildings demolished.
Heart of Barrow is being led by Westmorland and Furness Council, working on behalf of the wider Team Barrow programme – a partnership between the council, BAE Systems and national Government.
Cllr Helen Chaffey, cabinet member for communities and culture, said: “We understand and recognise the importance of the Forum and market.
“Not only as an entertainment venue and a retail facility, but as much-loved and valued community spaces. This important role has been clearly reinforced through feedback in the recent Heart of Barrow Community Conversation engagement.
“The project to develop the long-term vision for the future of the town centre will continue to work closely with the community to ensure that the essential elements of the Forum and market offer – arts, culture, entertainment, small business support and retail – along with more housing and a cleaner, safer and healthier environment, will all form part of the plans.”
Cllr Tony Callister, chair of Furness Locality Board, said: “We know these are big, bold decisions but we have a chance in a lifetime to transform our town and our town centre.
“We must be brave and while the longer-term transformation plans are being developed our meanwhile offer remains imperative – as it will be of the upmost importance that Barrow’s town centre remains vibrant and appealing as a destination for both local residents and those travelling from further afield in the coming months and years while the exciting transformation work is underway.”
