Old and new city markets will be open at same time, council says
SOME stallholders will remain in Bradford’s Kirkgate Market after the new Darley Street Market opens, the council has revealed.
The modern, three-storey market – due to open later this year – will eventually replace the existing markets in Oastler Centre and Kirkgate Centre.
Bradford Council had previously said the two other markets would shut once Darley Street Market opens, with some of the existing traders moving to the new building.
But the authority has now confirmed that there will be a period when there will be traders in both Darley Street and Kirkgate.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service raised the issue with the council after traders in Kirkgate Market said they had recently signed two-year leases for their current stalls.
Bradford Council owns the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, home to Kirkgate Market, having bought the Brutalist building nearly two years ago for £15.5m as part of its plan to redevelop the city centre.
The council’s plan is to demolish the centre, which opened in 1976 and was formerly known as the Arndale Centre, in the coming years to make way for a new “city village” residential development, with green space and small commercial accommodation.
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The lease that was issued to traders in January this year was a two-year fixed term.
"However, either the council or tenant can terminate at any time on two months’ notice.
“At the time, we informed traders in Kirkgate Market that we intend to keep the market open until the end of this year and then to assess matters based on when we required vacant possession of the whole centre.
"This is to allow traders who aren’t moving to the new Darley
Street Market to be able to continue trading until vacant possession is needed.”
When asked if this meant there would be a period where both the new Darley Street Market and Kirkgate Market would be operating, the spokesman replied: “There will be a period where Kirkgate Market will remain open at the same time as Darley Street Market.
“This will provide short-term trading opportunities for those existing traders from both Oastler and Kirkgate Market who were either unsuccessful or did not apply for a stall in Darley Street Market.”
Asked about whether any stall holders for the third floor food hall in Darley Street Market would be announced soon, the spokesperson added: “The selection process for our food and beverage floor has commenced and interviews are taking place with potential businesses for the 13 food and drink kiosks and two ground floor café units.
“To assist tenants in the fitting out of their stalls, the council has appointed a shop fitting company that will design each stall and undertake the works on behalf of traders.
“At the same time, traders will be issued with a lease and once under contract the council will initiate a marketing campaign announcing each business and their location in Darley Street Market.”