The ongoing redevelopment of a town centre indoor market will receive a £800,000 boost to attract new traders.
Council and market officials hope to entice a younger demographic to Darlington Market by replacing the current 10 empty units with new contemporary outlets designed to attract a new generation of businesses.
Changes in living and working behaviour have affected footfall at the historic Victorian market and Darlington Council has now proposed a plan for further development of the traditional trading area to make it fit for the future.
Initial ideas outlined by the site’s owners Market Asset Management (MAM) include: an eco-shop, bottle shop, USA sweet shop, shoemakers and hairdressers.
The units will be finished to a certain level and then incoming traders will have the ability to choose their own finishes and operating style. The redesigned market will also include a pack and despatch area to support traders who benefit from online sales.
Council chiefs and market bosses will survey current and potential traders alongside market users about what is needed to revive the struggling shopping site. The authority estimates the work will cost £800,000, funded through the Tees Valley Combined Authority Indigenous Growth Fund.
The refurbishment of the market commenced in 2021 and includes six street food stalls, new toilets, enhanced entrance areas, and a new bar facility. A new prohibition-themed bar is currently being built in the basement.
Read more: Darlington Market's 15 traders that have either closed or relocated
However, several traders have left the site since it reopened, either relocating to elsewhere in the town or ceasing trading all together. MAM has faced criticism from former traders and customers due to the changes, but market bosses are confident the changes are for the good.
Councillor Matthew Snedker echoed those concerns at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He said: “Clearly the building is a great heritage asset to the town and it’s very important to us. But the history up to now has not been great. There’s plenty buzz around the evening economy there, the music and fast food offering, but there is a certain degree of unease among people I talk to about loss of traders and certainly about traders leaving under a cloud.
“I’m just checking that you have a handle of what’s going on there? I just want to make sure that you are talking to the traders, you are understanding what the problems are and we do have access to MAM to ensure those traders are treated properly because otherwise it’s just going to turn into a fast food and music joint and we don’t need that.”
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Council leader Jonathan Dulston said he continues to hold MAM to account and speaks to traders monthly about issues at the site. Current traders are currently receiving free advertising by the council to attract more customers.
“This next phase is the most significant and I hope this can have a positive impact on businesses,” he said. “We want traditional fruit and veg, fisherman, and butchers to stay in Darlington. But ultimately, we need residents to support the local trade by shopping local.
“I’m hope that those people who have been patient and stayed the course finally get their piece of the cake.”
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