IT seems everywhere wants a piece of Alty.
...while the vacant Santander building on site ‘creates the opportunity for a new indoor food hall’
Following the roaring success of Altrincham’s Market House project – which saw the old covered market transformed from dilapidated regional relic to European-style food hall, reviving the town centre and kick-starting its food-lead resurgence – a number of Greater Manchester towns and boroughs are attempting to emulate its success.
There was the council’s failed coup of Stockport Market, which sought to eject traders in favour of a new Alty-style food hall; the renovation of Northern Quarter’s former meat market, the Mackie Mayor, which will soon attempt to mimic the Altrincham model (by employing the same operators); and now Rochdale, which has recently unveiled plans for its own new market-cum-food hall.
Within the next few weeks, a planning application for a brand new market on The Butts will be submitted to the council.
According to plans, The Butts site – which sits within the town centre conservation area and next to the re-opened river - has the potential to accommodate 25 to 30 new outdoor market stalls, while the vacant Santander building on site ‘creates the opportunity for a new indoor food hall’.
The Butts with the proposed food hall (right).jpg)
CGI of the new outdoor market and indoor food market (top)When the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre was sold in 2013, the council took over the running of the market to save it from closure. It has been on its current site on Smith Street - next to the town centre Metrolink stop - since early 2015.
Should planning permission be granted, the council have expressed their intention to appoint an external market operator who will be tasked with running the project long-term and bringing new, diverse retailers to the market.
All current traders will be able to repitch for a stall on the new market, which threatens to cause a rift between the traders and the council similar to that seen in Stockport.
Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This new market will be a huge boost for Rochdale town centre, and will go hand-in-hand with all the other improvements that are taking place as part of the council’s £250m town centre regeneration.
“The Butts is a fantastic location right in the heart of the town centre, next to the stunning River Roch and our brand new transport facilities. A good market with plenty of choice is an essential part of any thriving town centre and we’re well on our way to delivering this.”
The planning application will be considered within the next few months, with the new market due to open on The Butts by Easter next year.
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