Oldham’s brand new £40m market opened on Saturday morning.
The multi-million-pound space on Parliament Square, dubbed ‘The Market’, is due to open to the public for the first time at 9am.
Photos reveal the sleek interior, where around 45 traders from the Tommyfield Market are setting up shop.
The trading area is mostly on the first floor of the new building, directly accessible from the Spindles shopping centre. This is connected to the ground floor via a grand staircase, which doubles as bleacher seating for diners and shoppers.
The total contractor contract value for the market was £38.2m, an FOI has revealed. The council also received a £2m cash boost from the government’s community fund last year to help traders relocate, and a further £1m to help outdoor traders move to George Street, which is due to happen in the next year.
The project is part of an £450-million-pound scheme to completely revamp the town centre and revive Oldham’s dying high streets. The transition into the new space has not always been smooth – with the council announcing an undetermined delay which lasted six months after traders were due to move to the new venue last year.
But stallholders who spoke to the LDRS before the move shared they were ‘excited’ for the new venture. Businesses have asked customers to show their support by visiting the new market.
The launch included a program of family friendly entertainment. That includes a performance by K-Pop Universe; a Taylor Swift tribute act; and Granny Turismo – a group of ‘mischievous grannies racing around on supersized shopping trollies’.
There will also be street plays, rides and arcades for kids, balloon artists, crafts and face painting.
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