News: Rotherham Council extends rent support to traders after teething troubles at new market hall
Support for stall holders in Rotherham's new market hall has been extended after operators admitted that traders and visitors had faced "temporary challenges."
As part of the £46.844m scheme, traders from the old indoor market have moved temporarily into the New Market Hall until the work on the indoor market is complete (previously scheduled for Autumn 2027). When these traders move back into their revamped home, street traders are due to make use of the new Market Hall.
Rothbiz reported last month on traders raising issues impacting their businesses since the new hall opened in the summer.
Footfall had been affected by ongoing construction activity in the area, hot weather and the closure of the college campus over the summer.
An update to Sarah Champion, the local Rotherham MP, John Edwards, chief executive of Rotherham Council, said: "Recognising the impact that regeneration works have had on customer footfall and trading conditions, the Council has reviewed the current position and taken the decision to extend the existing rent relief support for Market Hall traders.
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"Traders have been advised that the current three-month rent-free period, which was due to end on 30 September 2026, will now be extended for a further six months until 31 March 2027. During this period, no market rent, storage rent or service charges will be payable.
"The communication issued to traders acknowledges the difficulties many businesses have experienced and thanks them for their patience, commitment and continued support throughout this significant period of change. The additional support is intended to provide greater certainty for traders, helping them to plan ahead during the important Christmas trading period and beyond.
"The Council remains committed to supporting the market and its traders while regeneration activity continues and will continue to monitor trading conditions and keep traders updated on future developments."
In the September 2026/27 Financial Monitoring Report, the council's Markets service is forecasting a £0.7m overspend because of income shortfalls. The authority said that this was "a similar position to previous years but a worsening of £0.1m since the last report as rent-free periods have been extended." The position is being monitored carefully as the development works continue, following the successful move of traders from the indoor covered market into the new Market Hall.
Contractors Henry Boot are on site completing the new library next door and a recently opened walkway connects the top of Drummond Street, the Henry Street lift access and the crossing near Drummond Street Car Park.
The end of the rent free period may coincide with the opening of the new Rotherham library which has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2027.
Outdoor markets have begun to make use of the new public realm outside of the market hall and in September a planning application was submitted for a big outdoor TV screen at the site.
Rotherham Markets website
Images: RMBC
As part of the £46.844m scheme, traders from the old indoor market have moved temporarily into the New Market Hall until the work on the indoor market is complete (previously scheduled for Autumn 2027). When these traders move back into their revamped home, street traders are due to make use of the new Market Hall.
Rothbiz reported last month on traders raising issues impacting their businesses since the new hall opened in the summer.
Footfall had been affected by ongoing construction activity in the area, hot weather and the closure of the college campus over the summer.
An update to Sarah Champion, the local Rotherham MP, John Edwards, chief executive of Rotherham Council, said: "Recognising the impact that regeneration works have had on customer footfall and trading conditions, the Council has reviewed the current position and taken the decision to extend the existing rent relief support for Market Hall traders.
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"Traders have been advised that the current three-month rent-free period, which was due to end on 30 September 2026, will now be extended for a further six months until 31 March 2027. During this period, no market rent, storage rent or service charges will be payable.
"The communication issued to traders acknowledges the difficulties many businesses have experienced and thanks them for their patience, commitment and continued support throughout this significant period of change. The additional support is intended to provide greater certainty for traders, helping them to plan ahead during the important Christmas trading period and beyond.
"The Council remains committed to supporting the market and its traders while regeneration activity continues and will continue to monitor trading conditions and keep traders updated on future developments."
In the September 2026/27 Financial Monitoring Report, the council's Markets service is forecasting a £0.7m overspend because of income shortfalls. The authority said that this was "a similar position to previous years but a worsening of £0.1m since the last report as rent-free periods have been extended." The position is being monitored carefully as the development works continue, following the successful move of traders from the indoor covered market into the new Market Hall.
Contractors Henry Boot are on site completing the new library next door and a recently opened walkway connects the top of Drummond Street, the Henry Street lift access and the crossing near Drummond Street Car Park.
The end of the rent free period may coincide with the opening of the new Rotherham library which has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2027.
Outdoor markets have begun to make use of the new public realm outside of the market hall and in September a planning application was submitted for a big outdoor TV screen at the site.
Rotherham Markets website
Images: RMBC
4 comments:
The traders have been informed that the money has run out for the refurbishment of the old indoor market and they've been given two choices, move back into the old market with a cheap bodge job of a refurb that's basically the same as it was, or make the new supposedly temporary market, permanent. Both options are terrible, the old market was a dump, and the location of the new one has been a disaster.
The move has just made a bad situation worse and as soon as the free rent ends, most traders will be closing, that's if they can even make it that far.
Its what you get when you elect lunitics to run a town, they turn it into an 'asylum.'... in more ways than one!
"The traders have been informed that the money has run out for the refurbishment of the old indoor market" What is your source for this please?
My parents are traders. They've been informed today that the refurb for the old indoor market will not be going ahead. The traders were sold the new 'temporary' market on false pretences.
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