Councillors back £1.6m market upgrade

Traders in Trinity Market in Hull’s Old Town are pinning their hopes on the proposals to revitalise the 115-year-old venue.

However they will probably be disappointed to learn that work will now start in the summer - and is not due to be completed until the summer of next year - halfway through City of Culture year.

The plans - which aim to create a “busy, vibrant” market in the Grade 2 listed building - include a new training restaurant which will be used to give Hull College students first-hand experience and a food court, with nine new hot food stalls.

There will also be a new mezzanine space for live music and arts performances linking the indoor market more closely with Trinity Square and Holy Trinity Church, which hosts the Holy Trinity Festival as well as the CAMRA Real Ale and Cider Festival.

There had been no objections to the scheme apart from the Victorian Society who said most of the works were relatively minor. However they balked at the new mezzanine, which would mean the “impressive interior” having to be divided up, “harming the building’s special interest.”

Speaking after councillors approved the plans, Garry Taylor, City Major Projects Manager, said: “Trinity Indoor Market has a very long history in Hull and it is only right that as part of the regeneration of the city centre, the market also receives a facelift.

“Now we have the go-ahead we can get this project underway and create the sort of market the traders and residents of Hull can be proud of.”

The £1.6m project is funded predominantly by the LEP with £1.35m funding coming from the Regional Growth fund, with a top up of £250,000 from the council. In a statement Hull Council said: “Every effort is being made to ensure that disruption for traders is kept to a minimum.”