Kirkgate Market, can it survive?

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Thu 07 Jun, 2012 9:51 pm

Jogon wrote: sommesaw this and thought of you...http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5 ... AA300_.jpg Ha Ha....yes indeed.Wish it'd been a sack of truffles though !

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 06 Mar, 2013 9:45 pm

Apparently good news regarding a massive investment for the Market in t'YEP:http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 321Leeds’s Kirkgate Market is to be brought “into the 21st century” by a huge cash injection.Plans for the proposed £12.3m investment, which would see the 1981 and 1976 buildings reroofed, create distinct zones and a central events space to attract shoppers, will go before Leeds City Council’s executive board on March 13.The announcement comes after years of debate and fears over advice to seek private investment and shrink the largest indoor market in Europe, which now appears to have been discarded.The revamp, which will be funded by borrowing paid off by the market’s £1.4m annual profit, could also see the 1976 hall become a daily covered market, while butchers row could be relocated with fish and game row.But council chiefs yesterday (March 4) refused to rule out rent rises for some units once the majority of work is completed by 2016.Coun Richard Lewis, the council’s executive member for development, said: “We want to do everything we can to support our market businesses to remain viable throughout the development.“We have a real opportunity to develop Kirkgate Market and with the new Eastgate shopping and leisure development just across the road, this will become a much busier area of the city.”He said he hoped work on the phased revamp would start “as quickly as possible”, with the aim of starting preparatory building work this year.The completion of the revamp will also see the way the market is managed change, with Coun Lewis favouring a council-owned arms length management firm taking the reins, as is done with council housing.The new model would likely see traders more involved in the running of the market.On the subject of rent rises, markets manager Sue Burgess said: “We have not put the rents up for the last five years and there is certainly no intention to do so but post development some of the units may be different so we would have to be looking at the rents again.”While it is hoped the outdoor market will stay the same, the frontage of George Street will be remodelled, while the whole project is aimed at complementing the new Eastgate Quarter, which is to feature a John Lewis.The market, which has seen a spike in footfall due to the horse meat scandal, has seen income fall over several years.Markets champion Coun Gerry Harper said 5,000 responses were gathered in consultation.So, very good news on the face of it, but it still doesn't combat two of the most important issues impacting on trade in the market - a lack of affordable nearby parking (which is set to get worse when the Eastgate sprawl encroaches across), or the astronomical cost of coming into Leeds on the bus to shop there. The market can be best in the world, but it needs shoppers to survive.

liits · Post by **liits** » Thu 07 Mar, 2013 6:13 am

raveydavey wrote: Apparently good news regarding a massive investment for the Market in t'YEP:Plans for the proposed £12.3m investment, which would see the 1981 and 1976 buildings reroofed, create distinct zones and a central events space to attract shoppers......... Not that I'm at all cynical but this is typical developer speak. "Central Events Space" translates as "That dead zone that it's never quite safe to cross, frequented by a congregation of Ne're-do-well's, drunks, beggers and those who would, in previous times, have been in a supervised environment, an occasional stage for council-run "initiatives" [anti-smoking, and the ubiquitous "Community Safety" guff] or primary school children doing what used to be called music & movement under the guise of "Performance Art Pieces".

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Thu 07 Mar, 2013 8:45 am

IIRC correctly this was a 'square' in the covered bit of the market, the caffs would be around the edge with extra seating 'outside' and a performance/demonstration area so you could be seranaded by a peruvian with a nose flute. As an idea I think it's quite good. In delivery....Is there a link to the detailed proposals, it's where the Devil lives.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Thu 07 Mar, 2013 11:28 am

Cardiarms wrote: Is there a link to the detailed proposals, it's where the Devil lives. This is the best I can find (scroll down to item 9):http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/ieListDoc ... 5677&Ver=4

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Thu 07 Mar, 2013 12:06 pm

So lets see if I've got this right - the councils plan to help secure the future of the market in Leeds is as follows.Firstly build yet another shopping centre next door on land that was available for shoppers to park their cars wanting to use the market, a shopping centre that no one really wants and that it is highly likely that no major retailers will want to move into, except apparently John Lewis - and I wont hold my breath on that one.Then, having removed the parking facility's for the market and built what will be an empty retail complex next door that will attract no one into the area, they then intend to "modernise" the existing stalls and charge the stall holders a higher rent, thats after removing some stall space to create an area of emptiness for people to look at on a daily basis, although to be fair that could be created by removing 16 of the current 17 phone unlocking stalls in the market.Cynical maybe but with the new flagship Trinity centre about to open its doors and all the empty retail space that will create that will become available to retailers at very reasonable rents I cant see a rosey future for the market and that whole area of the city.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 07 Mar, 2013 12:26 pm

[quotenick="BIG NCynical maybe but with the new flagship Trinity centre about to open its doors and all the empty retail space that will create that will become available to retailers at very reasonable rents I cant see a rosey future for the market and that whole area of the city. I agree entirely BIG N - regardless of the merits if any of such a vast scheme the timing is horrendously wrong. Major stores and chains are folding every time we hear the news, and the Trinity Centre is surely more than adequate for any hoped for expansion of City shopping - and is more convenient for the Station than is Eastgate.A FirstBus driver friend of mine also mentioned this morning that its already nigh on impossible to negotiate the Headrow as it is and any further pedestrianisation will likely see the City centre grind to a halt altogether. Don't even think about urgent access for fire engines and ambulances either.I suppose I'll be thought to be pessimistic - I often am - but I am comfortable to shelter behind the label of "reality."

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Tue 12 Mar, 2013 1:33 pm

I think a lot of nonsense is talked about parking for the market. It's no problem at all as this picture demonstrates.....

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Tue 12 Mar, 2013 1:42 pm

Cardiarms wrote: I think a lot of nonsense is talked about parking for the market. It's no problem at all as this picture demonstrates..... Oh damn it !! - how many times have a told that chauffeur to park my motor somewhere discreet away from the Paparazzi !!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 13 Mar, 2013 11:49 pm

In a BBC teletext report that I've just seen it reports that the City Council Executive Board has agreed a £12.3m development scheme for Kirkgate Market (what I call Leeds City Markets). In the report it states "The work would be paid for by money generated by the market. Initial work is expected to start with the replacement of the roofs on both the original and later buildings".Apologies if this is old news but if so I seemed to have missed it.