Work to transform Kendal's historic Indoor Market Hall has started after the last day of trading at the end of November.
To mark the occasion, traders were presented with gifts and thanked for their hard work and dedication for the good of the market, customers and the town centre over many years of trading.
Cllr Virginia Taylor said: "Kendal has had a Market Charter since 1189 and Westmorland and Furness Council takes the responsibility of being the market’s custodians very seriously. The decision to close the market hall temporarily was therefore not taken lightly but because the work carried out will reinvigorate the market and the town centre for many years to come.
"We thank the traders for their hard work over the years, but also for the understanding and co-operation throughout this challenging process. We have taken steps to support traders in the short term and look forward to seeing familiar faces back again when the market hall reopens."
John Davison, who sells pet supplies, said: “I’ve taken the leap and leased new premises on the New Shambles, which is a fantastic location to secure the future of my small business. I took the business on from my beloved daughter Jarre a few years ago, and have loved every minute in the indoor market. We are like a family of traders, and we know the community we have built will continue to support us, with a few of us traders ending up next door to each other in the colourful New Shambles! I look forward to seeing what the council will do next with the markets, especially at a time when investment in desperately needed”.
Market users and traders have been engaging with the council on what they would like to see from their soon-to-be-refurbished indoor market, which is aimed at revitalising the historic Market Hall to provide a regenerated community and commercial space for Kendal fit for the 21st Century.
Initial works, made possible by £840,126 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, include perimeter wall repairs, roof replacement, an internal strip out, electric works and redecoration. This funding has a spending deadline of March 2025.
Solar panels will be installed on the roof as part of the Council’s wider decarbonisation programme, with further decarbonisation measures such as energy-efficient LED lighting and an air source heat pump to follow.
Discussions took place with traders to explore their options while the Market Hall is closed, and support packages made available to traders to support them through the project and temporary closure.
Expressions of interest are invited for traders and other businesses who may be interested in operating in the market when it reopens.
Click here for more information about making an expression of interest.
The UK SPF works are due to be completed by March 2025. However, the council is still awaiting the outcome of the Levelling Up Fund Round 3, which would likely see the market hall closed for longer for more and wider-ranging improvements should Government funding for the wider Heart of Kendal project be agreed.
Cllr Virginia Taylor further added: "We’ve had some positive conversations with Government on this funding, including just how much the delays are impacting our beloved town centre, and while they are committed to honour as many of the Levelling Up Fund Round 3 projects that they are able to, we still have a way to go until we receive any terms and conditions or actual funding. So for now we’ll push on with the enabling works at the Indoor Market and continue to re-assess the project should LUF terms and funding be received.”
The previous Government provisionally awarded the council £13.47 million from its Levelling Up Fund for the Heart of Kendal scheme in November 2023. This would regenerate Kendal Market Hall and also includes projects to enhance the public realm on Market Place and Kent Street, support the creation of the new campus for Kendal College in the Westmorland Shopping Centre to provide new education accommodation and transform the riverside path between Lowther Street and Abbot Hall into an active travel route, better connecting the River Kent to the town centre.
The new Government acknowledged the funding was being made available in the Autumn Budget earlier this month and discussions are under way to confirm the agreement in order to secure the funding, subject to further Government monitoring.