Excitement and fears over £700k refurbishment of Knutsford Market Hall

However, fears have been expressed over the design of the proposed makeover and access problems at the proposed temporary location, 60 King Street.

The investment comes as two traders already plan to quit the Silk Mill site after Christmas due to a drop in footfall.

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Knutsford Town Council has secured a half-a-million pound investment plus a further grant of £160k to transform the market for its 60th anniversary next year.

The interior will be given a complete re-fit and the frontage will be re-designed to create a modern, more welcoming image.

Knutsford based Hive Architects are currently developing a planning application for the scheme, due to be submitted before the end of the year.

Mike Brown, of The Market Butcher, the longest serving trader, said: “I have been a market trader since the 90s and am extremely excited about being part of the market’s next chapter.

Butcher Mike Brown, of The Market Butcher, is excited by the new plans (Image: Knutsford Town Council)

“We’ve met with the town council, not only about the plans for the new building, but also our temporary move to 60 King Street.

“2024 is the 60th anniversary of the market hall and what better way to celebrate than having new premises.

The proposed refurbishment will celebrate the market hall's 60th anniversary next year (Image: Knutsford Town Council)

“We can’t wait to greet our existing customers and hopefully some new faces too.”

Bahattin Attar, of The Market Café, said: “We have been trading in the market hall since 2021 and have built a loyal base of customers.

“Plans for the new market hall are great, offering a warmer and brighter environment for customers to not only stay and eat but dwell and discover everything we have to offer.”

Jonty Page, 63, who has run a fruit and veg stall for five years, fears the proposed contemporary design could lose the market’s ‘quirky appeal’.

The greengrocer said: “I’m up for a refurbishment but this is a historic market town.

Greengrocer Jonty Page is worried about losing the market's quirky character (Image: Jonty Page)

“Fitting a big glass front will turn us into an arcade and make us look like any other market.

“We need to preserve our character.

“They want to make every stall the same size with shutters and give us all electric meters.

“We’ve got nothing outside to say there is a market, all people see is a ginnel, which is why I put my flowers out there.”

Jonty fears the former Belle Epoque site is not suitable as a temporary home for traders.

He said: “60 King Street has been empty for four years and has no heating, electricity or water.

“They’d have to spend money to get it fit for purpose. They say we might be there for nine months.

“I’m worried about access and deliveries.

“How do we get our fridges through the door?

“Customers with pushchairs and the elderly and disabled would have to climb steps to get in.

“This is my livelihood. Every one of my customers is concerned.

“I’m worried that the market could die if we lose any more footfall.”

The council has secured a £560,000 grant in the first round of the government’s Community Ownership Fund.

A further grant of £160,000 has come from the Shared Prosperity Fund, managed by Cheshire East Council.

The improvement scheme is designed to ensure the continued sustainability of the market hall as a hub for small businesses.

Plans include creating a new glass frontage to flood the building with natural light.

The new layout will feature a more flexible central hall to allow community use when the market is closed.

Stall structures will be replaced to create more storage space and roof lights will be restored.

Improvements will be made to energy efficiency.

The council says existing traders will be guaranteed stalls in the newly refurbished building.

A display of the plans and project updates will be on show in the market in the new year.

Adam Keppel-Green, town clerk for Knutsford Town Council, said: “We share Jonty’s concern for the footfall in the market hall and that is why this refurbishment programme is so important.

“We have invited all traders to meet with us to discuss the plans for both the refurbishment and temporary relocation of the market so we can work together to ensure it works.

“Jonty is yet to take us up on the offer of a meeting and has not spoken with directly us about his concerns.  

“At these meetings we have advised traders that the works programme is between three to six months, that we will be making the building accessible for customers and that we need to work with traders on the logistics of setting up their temporary trading space.

“Our door remains open for Jonty to take us up on a meeting to discuss this all further and we are committed to working with all of our traders to ensure the project is a success.”