New market square to host City of Culture event

The completion date was put back due to rising costs late last year

Work on a new market square in Shipley will be completed by mid-September, the council has confirmed.

Bradford Council said fears the square would not be finished until November were unfounded and said a major City of Culture event would take place there on 26 and 27 September.

When completed, the market square will include a much bigger town centre space, replacing the existing fixed market stalls that have stood in the centre for decades.

The project has been funded by £3m acquired through the government-funded Shipley Towns Fund and a further £1m from the Streets for People funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

"The extensive work to transform Shipley Market square is currently progressing well," a council spokesperson said.

"Now that the contractor's cabins have been removed, works to resurface the car park area will follow with completion anticipated for mid-September."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the market's fixed stalls have been removed, and will be relocated to Cannon Mills.

Future markets in Shipley will be held using gazebos and pop-up stalls and a large canopy has been erected in the centre of the square to provide cover for traders.

The more open space will be used to hold various town centre events and celebrations and will offer new green spaces and seating.

The redesigned space will offer more green spaces and seating

Originally the plan was for the market to be completed in early 2025, however delays due to rising costs of materials meant the completion date was pushed back until May.

Then, later last year, the date was pushed back again, this time until late 2025.

However, the council has confirmed it will open in September in time for the town centre to host Bloom, which will feature music, aerial acrobats and street performers.

It will celebrate the "the spirit of Bradford and its people", according to the City of Culture website.

It added: "This large-scale production features a cast of hundreds, including local performers, movement artists, community choirs, and the world-class acrobats and aerialists of Upswing, one of the UK's leading contemporary circus companies."

The market redevelopment is a flagship scheme for the £25m Shipley Towns Fund and will be accompanied by the re-opening of the long-shut Market Square toilets.

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