Market revamp takes shape ahead of traders' return

Talks are taking place with traders about when they can move back to Leicester's revamped market place.

Stalls have been moved to a temporary site in Green Dragon Square while Leicester City Council carries out a £9.4m rennovation of the city's market.

Some of the hoardings round the Market Place, which have been in place since 2024, have now been removed as the project nears completion.

The council previously indicated it aimed to have traders back on the square by the end of 2026 but city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has suggested it may happen later.

The work on the market place is progessing well," Soulsby said.

"But we are having discussions with the traders about when they want to return.

"The aim has been to have them back by the end the year, and we should be able to do that, but some of them have suggested it may be better to wait a bit longer."

"We genuinely want to hear from traders about what they want."

Soulsby said potential disruption caused by relocating stalls to trade in the run-up to Christmas was one of the factors being considered.

Many traders have said they have struggled in the temporary location because of the disruption caused by the ongoing renovation of the area.

The council said it acknowledged the tough trading conditions and had waived stall holders' rents until the end of the year at a cost of £150,000.

Market trader Stephen Powley said he believed most stall holders expected to move back in April, but uncertainty remained about what would happen once they returned.

"At the moment we're not paying no rent and it's not busy at all," he said.

"When we go back there, we've got to pay rent, then we've just got to see how it goes.

"If it ain't no better, then there could be no market."

Powley said he would have liked to have moved back to the original site "perhaps a month before Christmas to get started" but he did not expect to make the move until next spring.

He added their current temporary location looked nice but was too small.

Vicky Morris, of Vicky's Fresh Fruits, said she was pleased traders would eventually return to the historic market site, but remained concerned about plans for the renovated market to be uncovered.

"It's where we're known and that's where the footfall is," she said.

"I'm not very pleased about not having a roof. I don't know how long we'll survive without a roof."

Morris said trading at Green Dragon Square had been difficult and she had lost about half a day's trade each day since moving there.

Meanwhile, trader Odel Pittard said a return before Christmas would be difficult because of the disruption it could cause during one of the busiest periods of the year.

She said a spring reopening could instead be marked with a major launch event to encourage people back into the city centre.

"You've got to be optimistic because we've been here for that long now and we've been through so many struggles.

"Truthfully, if Peter Soulsby hadn't given us free rent, I think a lot of traders wouldn't be here right now," she said.

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.