Leicester Market’s long-awaited return to the city’s new market square is going to take a little longer than originally hoped.
The market is now expected to reopen on the redeveloped square in April 2027, rather than making the move before the end of this year.
But before you start sharpening your pitchforks, this isn’t simply another building-project delay. The traders themselves have asked to wait.
All 11 traders affected by the relocation were recently surveyed by Leicester City Council, and every single one said they would prefer to move once the final phase of the redevelopment had been completed.
Their biggest concern? The weather.
Traders also raised worries about trying to operate alongside ongoing construction work and the general conditions on the site.
The council had offered them the chance to return in December, with the original ambition being to have the market back on the square before the end of 2026.
Instead, everything will now stay put until April, by which point Phase 3 of the redevelopment should be finished.
That extra time will be used to sort out stall layouts, utilities, access and the various other less glamorous bits required to get a market up and running.
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the traders had made their preference “very clear”.
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“We’ve worked closely with the traders throughout this major redevelopment of Leicester Market, so it was vital that their views were taken into account when planning their return to the market square,” he said.
“We offered the traders the option of moving back in December, as our aim was always to have them back on the square by the end of the year, but the results of the consultation were unanimous.”
The council will now work with food traders on their move and the allocation of stalls, while discussions will continue with dry goods and unit traders about their future plans.
Another meeting between traders’ representatives and the City Mayor is due to take place in December, when more details about the final stage of the redevelopment and the big move should be available.
So, yes, Leicester will have to wait another few months for the market’s big homecoming.
But given the choice between opening in the middle of winter while builders are still knocking about, or waiting until spring and doing it properly, you can probably see the traders’ point.
