Frequently asked questions

Whilst we aimed to select a Market Operator by early 2024, the process has taken a little longer than expected. The good news is that this open and transparent procurement exercise has concluded and a preferred Market Operator has now been identified. Work is now progressing on the legal agreement and once in place there will be a formal announcement.

Following the announcement, most likely in 2025, they will plan a programme of discussions with the existing market traders who were decanted onto the town square / around the town centre and explain more about how other local businesses and entrepreneurs can get in touch to register an interest in trading from the newly redeveloped Accrington Market.

The open and transparent procurement exercise to identify an operator to manage the shared workspace in Burtons Chambers on behalf of the Council has now concluded, with the organisation 2-Work being successful. This operator has a number of existing facilities across the north of England and have been busy working with the design teams on finalising the plans for the layout of the shared workspace. For further details, you can contact the operator directly by email at Burtonschambers@2-work.co.uk

An operator procurement process has taken place, led by CBRE and their sub-consultant, Barker Proudlove, to help us identify operators for both the Burtons Chambers and Market Hall.  

2-Work have been identified to operate the flexible co-working office space that will open in Burtons Chambers once renovation works are complete.  2-Work currently provide flexible, tailored workspace in space in locations across the north of England.  More information about them can be found here 2-work.co.uk 

The process for Market Hall is nearing completion and this text will be updated once the operator is selected. 

There are a number of ways to keep in touch.

We’ll keep this website up to date, please check out the latest news and regular construction updates.

Businesses and organisations can register interest in being involved here.

We’ll share information on Social Media such as Facebook and Instagram, search for ‘Accrington Town Square’

We’ll hold events you can come along to, and information about those will be shared on this website and Social Media.

Thanks for your interest – we are always pleased to hear from organisations and especially local companies who want to get involved.

The project has been underway for some time so we’ve already selected the design team members, following the procurement strategy that was approved for the project and by the funding guidance. This project team has been selected with the skills we need to progress the design – this includes project managers, cost manager, architects, engineers and other skills needed to deliver the project like town planning consultants.

Morgan Sindall was appointed Main Contractor late in 2023 and they have been engaging with the supply chain (read the full story here). To register your interest in supplying services or materials to the project please visit their website.

Morgan Sindall Site Manager, Joel Murray, will be supporting the works. If you have any specific comments or concerns during the work, Joel is available via: 07966633697

To keep the public informed of construction activities, Morgan Sindall provide a monthly newsletter, which is available to view on the ATS website (here) and available on the windows of the Information Point in the Town Square.

Some level of disruption as part of the construction activities will be unavoidable, but this will be planned well to avoid peak times and ensure the continuation of the market, local businesses and the general flow of traffic and pedestrians but Morgan Sindall’s priority for the project is to ensure that everyone’s health, wellbeing and environment are 100% Safe.

If you have a specific concern about the works, do please contact site manager Joel Murray directly on joel.murray@morgansindall.com or if urgent Tel: 07966 633 697.

The market operator will implement their own security during these times. We’re still working through design details on how areas will be locked and cordoned off. This will be an ongoing element of the project as we work with the operators and design teams.

Following an announcement in 2025, the new operators for the Market Hall will plan a programme of discussions with the existing market traders who were decanted onto the town square and explain how other local businesses and entrepreneurs can get in touch to register an interest in trading from the newly redeveloped Accrington Market when it reopens.

The type and location of any leisure provision has not yet been agreed/finalised as designs are being held with the new operator on the specific provision. When confirmed, these plans will be announced.

Various consultations have taken place over the past 2 years and now the operator has been identified discussions are taking place with the multi-disciplinary team. Once designs are finalised, this will be communicated to anyone registering an interest in trading from the newly redeveloped Accrington Market.

We are pleased to confirm that as part of the wider Market Hall redevelopment designs, not only are the existing public toilets being replaced and upgraded, the Market Hall will incorporate a new Changing Places Toilet facility.

From January 2024, you will find the majority of Accrington Market Traders in temporary cabins on the town square or within the Victorian Arcade off Church Street, units on Broadway or inside the Arndale Centre.

The Council has now acquired the freeholds rights to Burtons Chambers and the majority of properties within Market Chambers. The Council has funding to complete the land assembly required to deliver the vision and are continuing to talk to those who own, or work or live in the buildings about the plans and what they mean for them. The plan is to find a solution that works for everyone, and anyone who is impacted will have the chance to talk through the options available to them with the Council’s consultants.

2023

• Design work has continued, consultation has taken place, and all planning applications have been submitted.
• Opportunities for surveys, investigations, and some enabling work positions have been arranged.
• Progress on identifying operates for Market Hall and Burtons Chambers once they are finished was progressed.
• A Contractor (builder) for the decant and enablingworks was appointed.
  The team continued working with everyone impacted by the works to come up with and a plan and execute this for them, which includedthinking about the best plans for the Market Traders while the works take place in the Market Hall.

2024

• We’re hoping the buildings will be ready for works to start properly during the beginning of the year. To achieve this, we’ll be aiming to conclude discussions with anyone impacted by the works.
• We have received planning approval for Burtons Chambers and the ‘Market on the Square, and will need to have decisions on the remaining planning applications.
• This will enable the works to commence
• Much of the work will be internal so it may not be obvious what is happening…but we’ll let everyone know how things are going.

2025

• The works to restore the buildings are continuing.
• Works to fitout and prepare for opening the new Market Hall and Burtons Chambers will continue with the operators.

The Council is committed to making sure these projects have the maximum positive impact for people and businesses and will work with you to understand your thoughts on how we do that. Morgan Sindall have appointed a Social Value lead, who will to help and have developed plans to make this happen.

During December 2023, our Delivery Partner Morgan Sindall were preparing the Town Square to receive the market cabins that are creating the new ‘Market on the Square’. We’ve tried to keep the impact to a minimum but unfortunately to enable both the works to the three buildings (Market Hall, Burtons Chambers and Market Chambers) to take place and to bring in the ‘Market on the Square’ there is a need to makes some changes including moving benches and planters. Everything will be carefully removed, stored safely, ready to be re-installed at the end of the works in 2025. The cabins have now all been delivered, and traders have begun moving in. Everything will be carefully removed, stored safely, ready to be re-installed at the end of the works.

The three projects are:

Accrington Market Hall, which will be refurbished and transformed with traditional market stall alongside an enhanced food and drink offering and leisure for local people and to welcome visitors from across the county.

Burtons Chambers building, opposite the Town Hall, which will be restored to become a vibrant co-working space for local businesses and entrepreneurs to be based or work from.

Market Chambers building, opposite the Market Hall and next to Burton Chambers, which will be redeveloped and transformed into a cultural, heritage and arts space.

The Government-funded projects were selected through development of our Town Centre Investment Plan (TCIP). The TCIP sets out potential possible investments of around £70m, is predicted to generate up to £9.6million for the local economy each year, entice up to 820,000 visitors annually and support hundreds of new jobs. The TCIP was developed following an extensive period of consultation where a whole range of potential projects and ideas were identified, and a shortlisting process took place. The Plan was presented in a Full Council meeting on 13 January 2022, and will guide decision making and be used as a springboard to secure future funding and investment. It details a variety of projects and initiatives that will improve environmental quality in the town, encouraging sustainable growth for the local economy over the next 10-15 years, if implemented and can be found here.

The Council has been really successful, and has now secured £23 million required to deliver our initial Town Centre plans. We’ve secured:

Government Funding: £23 million (includes HBC and LCC match funding)

The Council has also secured

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: £3 million

National Lottery Heritage Fund £5 million (with £0.833 million released for working up the Development Phase)

Long Term Plan for Towns funding £20 million

Lancashire County Council’s £50 million Government Fund (Hyndburn indicative allocation): £15 million

The Council will continue to look for identify opportunities to fund further projects in the TCIP and will update you if and when further funding is secured.