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New plan for smaller Leicester Market along with event space
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New plan for smaller Leicester Market along with event space

Leicester City Hall An artist's impression of a busy indoor market, with a man in a wheelchair buying fresh bread and a shopkeeper selling fruit and vegetables oppositeLeicester City Council

Traders selling food would be prioritized in the new proposal, the council said.

The council has unveiled a new plan for the future of Leicester Market.

At the beginning of this year we worked on A planned £7.5m market renovation was “paused” after demolition work at the site.

The city council stated at the time that the area freed up by the works could be used as a space for events.

A consultation has now begun on a plan to return the market to its original location and create a new “event space”.

The new plans would see a new smaller 48-stall market created next to the existing food hall.

Automatic shutters would protect the market when not in use, the council said, while they could be dismantled entirely if the entire site were used for an event.

Leicester City Hall An artist's impression of an aerial view of the market square, with a three-roofed market square closer to the camera and an open area with seating and fairground rides outside Wetherspoons.Leicester City Council

An event space is planned along with a smaller food-focused market.

The city’s mayor, Peter Soulsby, said the new market would be “food-focused” and would prioritize stalls for traders selling high-quality fruit, vegetables and foods from around the world.

Sir Peter said that while businesses and heritage groups welcomed a proposal to “reconsider the potential” of the market as a space to “become the focal point for festivals, events and celebrations in Leicester”, traders themselves did not want relocate.

He said: “It was clear that the market traders themselves were keen to return to the site where they had stood for generations.”

Leicester City Hall The area where the market was before the demolition seen from the airLeicester City Council

The site has remained clear since May while new plans were drawn up.

If given the go-ahead, the new event space could be repaved and completed early next year, with the new market building opening in spring/summer 2027.

Merchants could continue operating from Green Dragon Square until then.

A public consultation will run until December 9.