Leicester market return could slip into spring as revamp nears completion

Shoppers will continue to find Leicester’s market traders at Green Dragon Square while talks take place over a move back to Market Place. A return by the end of 2026 remains possible, but some stallholders favour waiting until spring, BBC News reports.

Parts of the hoarding surrounding Market Place since 2024 have been taken down as Leicester City Council’s £9.4m renovation approaches completion. The council demolished the covered market in 2024.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said work was progressing well and the council should be able to meet its year-end target. However, traders’ preferences and the disruption of moving during the Christmas trading period are being considered.

Rent relief and difficult trading

The council has waived stallholders’ rents until the end of 2026, at a cost of £150,000, acknowledging difficult trading conditions at the temporary site.

One trader said he believed most stallholders expected an April move. He would have preferred to return about a month before Christmas, but now expected to move next spring. He described Green Dragon Square as attractive but too small, and raised concerns about paying rent again if business failed to improve.

Vicky Morris, of Vicky’s Fresh Fruits, welcomed the prospect of returning to the market’s historic home, where she said customers knew to find the business. However, she was concerned about trading without a roof. She said she had lost about half a day’s trade each day since relocating.

Another trader said moving before Christmas risked disrupting one of the busiest trading periods. She suggested a spring reopening could be accompanied by a major launch event to draw people into the city centre, and credited the rent waiver with helping traders stay in business.

Source: BBC News