Bradford Council will discuss the Darley Street Market’s opening date and stall costs. A report requests funds for stall fitting.
The report requests money for stall fitting. Funds were already set aside for this purpose, allowing completion of the stalls. It includes non-food and fresh food stalls on the lower and middle floors.
Last September, a councillor stated the market would open in Spring. The food hall fitting began in November 2024. The council hired R N Wooler and Co Ltd, a Keighley firm.
The firm works with traders, focusing on the fresh food and non-food floors. They will provide costs, designs, and a build schedule. The council can announce the opening date after reviewing the schedule. A councillor believes it will greatly benefit the city center.
The report updates the food hall progress and asks to use existing funds for other floors. The market will connect areas around North Parade, and new public spaces will also benefit from the project.
It replaces two old markets, unlocking space for City Village. City Village is a large regeneration project that has already brought £30m investment. It will feature homes, parks, as well as retail and office space. An opening date announcement is coming soon.
The new market is 4,000 square meters and houses three floors for traders. It features a cultural space for events. The top floor functions as a food and drinks hall, complete with a bar, stage, screens, and a terrace that overlooks a market square.
The middle floor offers fresh food stalls for butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers, and delicatessens. The ground floor provides spaces for non-food stalls. Two cafes open onto the market square.
The square holds around 500 people, allowing for events and concerts. Special umbrellas can cover the area, enabling pop-up markets. A delivery area, storage, and recycling facilities reside below the square.
Darley Street Market replaces the Oastler Centre and Kirkgate Market. The council states that the old buildings are worn out. Closing these markets frees space for the City Village project.
City Village aims to create a “healthy” neighborhood. This includes homes, parks, retail spaces, and offices.
Originally, it was to open in autumn 2023, with a budget of £23.5 million. The budget rose to £27m due to inflation. In early 2024, they added £1.4m.
Due to the failure of finding a food hall operator, the council markets team will run it. In August 2024, £2.4m more was needed, and in September, Spring 2025 became the new opening target. Several factors led to delays and increased costs, including design changes and complex demolition challenges.
The council uses capital budgets for big projects. This budget is specific to projects and cannot fund usual council services. Service funding comes from a separate budget.