New plan for smaller city market with events space

Traders who sell food would be prioritised in the new proposal, said the council

A new plan for the future of Leicester Market has been unveiled by the city council.

Earlier this year work on a planned £7.5m revamp of the marketplace was "paused" following demolition work at the site.

The council said at the time that the area opened up by the work could instead be used as a space for events.

A consultation has now been launched on a plan to both return the market to its original location as well as create a new "event space".

A new, smaller 48-stall market site would be created adjacent to the existing food hall in the new plans.

Automated shutters would secure the market when it was not in use, said the council, while it could be fully dismantled if the entire site was being used for an event.

An events space is planned alongside a smaller, food-focused market

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the new market would be "food-focused" with stalls prioritised for traders selling fruit, vegetables and high-quality food from around the world.

Soulsby said while a proposal to "reconsider the potential" for the marketplace as a space to "become the focal point for festivals, events and celebrations in Leicester" was welcomed by businesses and heritage groups, the traders themselves did not wish to relocate.

He said: "It was clear that the market traders themselves felt strongly about returning to the site where they'd stood for generations."

The site has sat, cleared, since May while new plans were drawn up

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

Traders could continue to operate from Green Dragon Square until then.

A public consultation will run until 9 December.