Colne Market Hall revamp is ‘progressing well’, councillors told

The redevelopment of Colne Market Hall, which could include a new food hall, bar, arts and crafts, is progressing well, Pendle councillors are being told.

The £3.5million regeneration project sparked debate in its early phases, with concerns about the relocation of existing market traders during the work and future rent levels, future management and a possible repositioning of the venue’s offering to attract upmarket customers.

The market hall scheme is funded mainly by levelling-up cash agreed with the previous Conservative government. The Barnfield construction and development firm is involved along with Quarterbridge Consultants, regarding future operators.

The market scheme is part of wider levelling-up funded work in Colne town centre including Colne Muni theatre, Pendle Hippodrome and Colne Little Theatre.

Building work is going well and within agreed budget allocations, with the market hall’s roof complete and the new cladding nearly finished, according to a new report for Pendle Council’s Colne area committee this month.

The canopy at the front has been demolished and the new elevation is being installed. Windows are being fitted and the building will soon be water-tight. the report states.

Inside, additional demolition work needed by the change from housing to employment use on the first floor area are well-advanced. Removal of an internal wall at the first floor level has ‘transformed’ the market hall environment internally, introducing light and space and the opportunity to view the ground floor from a first-floor gallery ‘walk-way’.

Inside fit-out works will start once the additional first floor works are complete. And a  demolition crew will shortly be moving to the basement to remove internal partitions to provide for more generous and usable inside storage space.

Regarding future management, an invitation to tender for a new external market operator has been advertised. There have been four firm expressions of interest, according to the report.  Three potential operators have visited the site before submitting their tenders. A change-of-use planning application for the first floor has been submitted to Pendle Council.

Recently, Pendle Council  launched a survey about arts and crafts ideas at the market. Another idea has included a cinema space. The survey runs until May 18.

Last summer, Pendle councillors on the executive were told the council was searching to find £700,000 of its own money to complete upgrades at The Muni after running out of levelling-up cash. Councillors heard work done to date at the theatre had breached an original budget funded by the government. But after major structural work, more activity was needed.

At the time, questions were raised about the original support agreed under the deal, amid claims the project had been ‘hamstrung’ by not getting enough money. Previously, councillors had been advised the Muni project was within budget.