New town centre site confirmed for Leyland Market in Kings Court as refurbishment gets under way
A new site has been confirmed for Leyland Market while the existing building undergoes major refurbishment.
The market will temporarily move to Kings Court Business Centre in King Street on Friday, September 27.
The last trading day at the existing location off Hough Lane will be next Tuesday (September 24).
The market will remain at Kings Court for the next 12 months while work takes place on the existing building.
The new location is just a five-minute walk from the current building, close to Hough Lane and the wider town centre area.
There will be no change to opening hours, with the market open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday each week.
The council expects the market refurbishment to be complete with traders in the new space by late 2025.
South Ribble Borough Council said it has worked on Kings Court to make sure it is provides an accessible, modern and suitable market building for the duration of the works.
What’s happening with the old market?
During the temporary move, the interior of the existing market building will be refurbished to update the branding and signage for the stalls, while the indoor stalls will be upgraded.
The market will also be expanded, with the addition of new external stalls facing a new market square.
The existing market hall will be refurbished while retaining the internal historic building structure (formerly a Leyland Motors building), and the long-term leaking roof will be replaced.
How was the new site chosen?
The council and market traders have worked together to find a temporary home for the market.
South Ribble Borough Council said the aim was to ensure that the local businesses were not negatively affected by the proposed works.
Traders were offered a relocation package, in which the council would support them with the move and freeze rates for the period of the relocation.
For those who chose not to relocate, a statutory measure compensation package was offered. Not all traders opted to relocate.
This will ensure that our community does not lose its wonderful market and that those who wished to continue trading were able to do so.
When will refurbishment be complete?
The council expects the market refurbishment to be complete with traders in the new space by late 2025.