New market hall 'oversubscribed', says council

The new Darley Street Market has been built on the site of an old Marks & Spencer store

Bradford's new market hall is “oversubscribed” with traders, the city council has said, although it may not open until 2025.

Construction of the £27m Darley Street Market in the city centre has been completed, with the interior set to be fitted out next week.

The council-run market will feature three storeys for stalls and food outlets, as well as a public events space.

The venue had been due to open this year, but the council confirmed it was now likely to be early next year.

The venue is built across three storeys

The market, built on the site of an old Marks & Spencer store, was first proposed nine years ago as a way of revitalising part of the city centre that had been hit by a large number of traders moving to the Broadway Shopping Centre.

Speaking on a tour of the inside of the new building, attended by local councillors and the Local Democracy Reporting Service, senior project manager Steve Jenks said there was a waiting list for traders wanting to set up there.

The market is expected to open early next year

Councillors were told the market would have footfall cameras that would provide data on how many people were visiting each stall.

Stalls that did not perform well may not have their contracts renewed, and Mr Jenks said this would create a turnover that could see less popular stalls replaced with traders on the waiting list.

He said: "If a trader does well and wants to expand we can direct them to some of the vacant shops in the city centre – that way we’re keeping them in the area.”

The venue is part of a widespread regeneration project across Bradford city centre

Asked when the market would open, Mr Jenks said: "We’re not giving an opening date yet because by the time all the work is done the traders will be in the pre-Christmas period, and some of them don’t want to move in that period because it is their busiest time.

“We’d rather fully open properly with all the stalls open than rush it and open with traders still putting items on the shelves.

“There is still a lot happening. We understand people want it to open as soon as possible.”

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]