Lincoln Cornhill Market: no confirmed opening date
Only around half the available stall spaces have had interest from businesses
Last updated 18th Jan 2024
The city council is still “working on a date” to announce the opening of the revamped Lincoln Cornhill Market, with councillors saying that only around half of the available stall spaces have had interest from just 18 businesses.
The £10 million renovation of Lincoln Cornhill Market started in May 2022, with a view to works being completed by the end of 2023 ahead of the festive season. But without a Christmas Market in Lincoln, the excitement for the new market was subdued.
Improvements included transforming the market into a modernised hub for retail, as well as food and drink, alongside building maintenance works such as glazing, a mezzanine level, contemporary roof and upgraded heating and lighting systems.
However, City of Lincoln Council announced an unspecified delay to this opening date until early 2024 following consultation with “prospective tenants” for the refurbished market.
At Full Council on Tuesday, January 16, City of Lincoln Council’s Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth, Cllr Naomi Tweddle (Labour), provided an update on the works, but could not give a definitive launch date for doors to be opened.
Cllr Tweddle was asked for this update by Conservative Cllr Tom Dyer, who wanted to know more about the “business occupancy” expectations of the market.
She responded: “We’ve had over 175 expressions of interest shown by businesses. However, the current economic climate and uncertainty has meant for a lot of these small businesses, it’s not the right time for them to make this jump.
“We have committed to continue to work with those and decided not to make the leap to look at opportunities for pop-up stalls in the city, for example, where we have a lovely great big space now, and also to be a part of the events programme.
“Our small market team has been working really hard, and we’ve received confirmation from 18 businesses, which is over half of the available stalls, that they’re going to be moving into the market.
“We’ve already sent eleven leases out for signing. Once these leases are signed, we’ll be bringing more to stallholders, taking them through the process to ensure that we have the appropriate balance that the market needs.
“We’re also working on a date to announce when we’re going to open the market.”
Cllr Dyer said news of “half” of the stallholders confirming they’d like to be at the market was “interesting,” but asked if the point of it being “not the right time” for businesses to be expanded upon.
“I’m pretty sure the market was supposed to open in December last year,” he said. “What are the issues? I remember, I think it went to policy scrutiny committee that there were some contractual concerns about how stringent the council was being.”
Cllr Tweddle said in response that the “delays to the work since summer” had a “knock on effect,” as businesses didn’t want to open in November, due to it being “too close to Christmas.”
This would prove a double blow for the people of Lincoln, given the lack of a Christmas Market in the city for 2023.
However, City of Lincoln Council has previously said the Cornhill market would use City Square for activities from Spring 2024, including markets that enhance the city’s events programme.