Overhaul of indoor market to begin after Easter

The refurbishment of Leek Indoor Market will begin in April

A market is due to undergo a £3.4m transformation after designs for the scheme were given the go-ahead.

Leek Indoor Market is set to close on 30 March, with traders then selling online or at other venues in the town.

It is not clear how long the work will take.

Arrangements for the closure initially proved contentious with traders, but Staffordshire Moorlands District Council said it had since reached an agreement over the programme of works.

The Trestle Market will be used as a flexible retail space

Councillor Matt Swindlehurst said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to breathe new life into these buildings to ensure they remain at the heart of town life for generations to come.

"Inevitably for a project on this scale, the buildings will need to be temporarily closed whilst the work is carried out and we've worked closely with the traders to offer alternative trading arrangements and support during this period."

He said many of the traders from the Butter Market would be trading outdoors on Wednesdays and Saturdays while the indoor market was closed.

Leek's indoor market is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

The wider plans for the town have attracted £17.1m from the government's Levelling Up Fund along with additional funding from the council.

The market scheme will include installation of wifi, CCTV, solar panels and air source heat pumps, as well as new insulation for the building.

The adjoining Trestle Market will also be refurbished to create a flexible retail space, the council said, with three independent food and drink outlets and seating for customers.

The building’s heritage features - including the glazed tiling and the roof trusses - will be preserved, while imitation slates on the roof will be replaced with real slate.