A NEW-LOOK Indoor Market is on the way in Coventry.
Coventry City Council is set to invest £1.2million to ensure the much-loved Coventry Indoor Market is a ‘striking landmark’ that supports the future of the city and the City Centre South development.
The money – comprising £600,000 from the government’s Pride in Place initiative, £400,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority, and £200,000 from developer Hill – will be used to transform the outer look of the market and celebrate its unique circular design.
Plans for the work, which are still being drawn up, will include new entrances, signage and lighting, cleaning of concrete and windows, and a tidy-up and de-clutter of the outside areas.
The council says the works will ‘open up’ the market, with greater visibility between the inside and outside.
The plan is designed to support the new-look city centre and the creation of City Centre South – a residential led, mixed-use development in the heart of the city that will deliver new homes, commercial and green space, and create a new residential, shopping and leisure destination.
Market Committee secretary Chris Charley said: “On behalf of the traders, we are extremely excited and pleased with this news.
“It is so great that Coventry Indoor Market has been recognised as such a vital part of Coventry city centre. We are extremely proud of its history, but this news secures its future, which brings certainty for our businesses going forward.
“We have worked and engaged with so many individuals and organisations who have come together to support and help the market. This is great news and we hope everyone continues to support the market for the future.”
The market is being kept open throughout the demolition and rebuilding for City Centre South, and the council has been working with traders to offer support with improved signage, Business Rates, meetings with developers, and initiatives such as ‘street food’ promotions and ‘pop-up’ stalls for new would-be traders.
Coun Jim O’Boyle, the council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “The market has been at the heart of our city centre for generations, and we are working very hard to ensure it is a major part of the Coventry of the future.
“As City Centre South develops, the market will be more visible than ever before, and part of a totally transformed area that is replacing tired and underused parts of our city with vibrant spaces and a bustling new community.
“We want the market to be a part of that, and this money will help us make it a visually striking attraction that invites people to visit the fantastic stalls inside.
“We know Coventry people love the market, and the council does too. It is a part of city life, and with this funding, and the initiatives already underway, we can make it the bright, attractive and thriving hub of city centre life it deserves to be.”
Plans for the changes are expected to be submitted for approval by early summer, and works are expected to be complete in late 2027.
Councillors are also looking at long-term plans to carry out internal improvements on the building, which will follow later after talks with traders.
