Bassetlaw District Council wishes to invest in its markets provision in order to safeguard the sustainability, vitality and viability of its three market days in Retford, and provide additional opportunities by repurposing the Buttermarket in Retford Town Hall.
The proposals below would allow the council to put forward a programme for regeneration of the market that would include significant investment, open up new opportunities and lead to a reduction in operating costs.
Nationally and locally, markets have been in decline over the last 10 years, with the Council’s income from markets reducing year on year. Added to this, the costs of running our markets have increased significantly. The current cost to the Council to provide a market now outweighs the income received.
The Council’s investment seeks to arrest this decline, making the market more sustainable, securing its future provision, and move towards a position of financial stability.
As part of this consultation, the Council has sought advice from the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) to benchmark Retford’s current market provision with the national landscape, and will consider their recommendations as part of this proposal.
The Council has also consulted NABMA on market policies and procedures ensuring that any consultations with traders are undertaken and conducted within the national guidelines of NABMA.
Proposal 1
To install bespoke, semi-permanent, multi-purpose market stalls on the Market Square in Retford Town Centre.
Please note; these images are for illustration purposes only and do not constitute final plans for Retford Market.
New Proposed Market Stalls
The primary use of the proposed, multi-purpose stalls will be to host traders who attend the current traditional market days of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The dimensions of each single trading space is proposed to be the same size as an existing single temporary stall.
The number of proposed semi-permanent stalls and the future layout of the market square will be based on the current number of traders that are registered to attend the provisions markets on Thursdays and Saturdays, the Antiques and Collectables Market on Fridays, and the needs of additional traders.
There will be additional temporary spaces available for larger market days and new traders wishing to attend.
Installing semi-permanent stalls would also provide the potential for extra trading opportunities for current or new traders on non-market days, subject to the Council’s approval.
When not in use, the stalls could also be converted to seating areas for organised events throughout the year, and for use by local businesses as part of the night-time economy.
Proposal 2
Repurpose the Buttermarket to provide an additional indoor trading space with market stalls.
Please note; these images are for illustration purposes only and do not constitute final plans for the Buttermarket.
Buttermarket, Retford Town Hall
In addition to changes to the market square, it is proposed to repurpose the Buttermarket, located in Retford Town Hall, to provide an additional indoor trading space that will compliment planned traditional markets, or be used independently for bespoke markets and standalone events, including hospitality.
Funding and Costs
Funding will be provided by the Government’s United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), in addition to Capital Funding from the Council’s existing Capital accounts.
A budget of around £175k for Retford Market is proposed, in addition to a budget of £227k to regenerate the Buttermarket proposal. This would create a total investment of more than £400k for Retford Markets.
Currently the overall cost to the Council to provide a market in Retford each year, after income, stands at £153,000. Our aim is to reinvigorate Retford Market so that it provides a sustainable income, allowing us to reinvest into the market for the future.
Last Updated on Monday, November 27, 2023