Years of delay over as work on market launched

Construction is now under way on the 200-stall market building on The Moor at the opposite end of the city centre to the run-down Castle Market.

If all goes according to plan, work should be finished by October next year and traders will be able to move in ready for the busy Christmas shopping period.

As well as the market stalls, the development will also feature eight shops fronting onto The Moor, and discussions are currently under way with retailers to try and secure tenants.

Among dignitaries at a turf-cutting ceremony for the development was the Government’s markets Minister Andrew Stunell, who said: “This new development shows there is a real appetite amongst consumers for the authentic market experience – seeing the produce, bartering for a good price and chatting to your friendly stall owner.

“It will be a credit to the city of Sheffield for years to come.”

The leader of Sheffield Council, Coun Julie Dore, said the move marked a “very exciting new chapter in the 800-year history of markets in Sheffield”.

She added: “Our market has one of the highest concentrations of small businesses in the city and the new hall underlines our commitment to helping them succeed.

“The new development will reinforce The Moor’s position as one of Sheffield’s main shopping areas.

“While work is going on it’s business as usual for The Moor and we will try to keep disruption to a minimum.

“The second phase of The Moor’s transformation has begun and we trust shoppers will bear with us during this time.”

Building work will be carried out by Kier Construction, while the market building was designed by retail specialists Leslie Jones Architects.

The market rebuilding project is already several years behind schedule, and traders in the increasingly decrepit Castle Market have been given discounts on their rents to reflect the problems they face by staying in a building that should have been demolished long ago.

Delays affecting the scheme were blamed mainly on the recession and wranglings over who was going to pay for the cost of the building work.

Construction has now been able to go ahead after a new deal was struck last year between Sheffield Council and The Moor’s landlord, Scottish Widows Investment Property Partnership Trust.

Previously Sheffield Council had granted a long lease on The Moor to the trust on the basis that the company would build the new market hall.

However, last year’s deal meant the lease was then returned to the council, which then borrowed the money necessary to build the market itself.

In years gone by, Castle Market attracted up to 10 million visitors a year.

However, the number of shoppers visiting the market, which would cost millions of pounds to bring up to standard, has decreased from around five million in 2005 to four million in the most recent surveys.

Once traders finally move out, the hope is that medieval remains of Sheffield Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was once imprisoned, will be unearthed.

The site, council bosses hope, will become a tourist attraction with a landscaped park.