Christmas is in full swing at Halifax Borough Market, marking the end of a year of great progress towards the Victorian building’s transformation.

Calderdale Council has launched a Christmas campaign to encourage people to shop locally and visit the market for a unique festive experience.

There are independent stalls selling a variety of gifts and seasonal produce, friendly and knowledgeable traders, special events, an elf trail with prizes and the chance to win a bumper hamper. Visit the Council’s website to find out more: Halifax Borough Market this Christmas.

Attracting more people into the market and Halifax town centre is also the aim of the £4.5 million revitalisation project, funded by the UK Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The project reached several milestones in 2023, paving the way for a thriving future for the market hall as a focal point for shopping, business and leisure.

The latest milestones include:

• Removal of the outdoor canopy along the Albion Street side of the market, after planning permission and listed building consent were granted earlier this year. This is to make way for modern new shop fronts, including new signs and retractable awnings. A distinctive new steel and glass canopy above the market entrance on Albion Street will also create a warm welcome and make the market stand out more along this side. This is due to be installed in early 2024.
  

• Submission of the application for listed building consent to install new signage to help people find their way around the market. Plans include fitting new signs at each market entrance to promote the traders and events available.
  

• Installation of the foundations and frames for a ‘sample stall’ unit. This will show how the market stalls could look when the Council starts to modernise vacant ones. Existing traders will have the option of whether to adopt the new style, and will be able to test and give feedback on the various storage and display options in the sample stall.

Work is nearing completion to refurbish the public toilets, and the granting of listed building consent for the area around the historic clock means that work can start in 2024 to create a new seating space, with new display boards showcasing the market’s unique history.

Work to refurbish the roof continues and is progressing well, making the market watertight, supporting improvements to heating and allowing more natural light into the building once complete. The ceiling and iron structure have been redecorated in tones of blue, green, gold and cream, in keeping with the market’s historic colours.

Work will start in 2024 to install new automatic sliding doors at the market arcade entrance to replace four of the heavy, free-swinging doors, after listed building consent was given earlier this year. The two original outer doors will be repaired and preserved, revealing previously hidden details.

Cllr Silvia Dacre, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “The Grade II listed Borough Market is full of the spirit of Christmas. We’ve worked with traders to bring events, activities and competitions to give people even more reasons to visit our unique and historic Market. Shopping with local businesses - both in our markets and with other independents - puts money back into our economy and helps our towns and places to thrive.”

Cllr Sarah Courtney, Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, added: “It’s been a year of great progress for Halifax Borough Market, and it has a bright new year and longer-term future ahead. Our investment into this magnificent building will support current and future market traders, increase the number of visitors, preserve the market’s heritage and contribute to local climate action by creating a more energy-efficient building. This is part of the opportunities we are creating for Halifax’s high street to grow and thrive.”

The market transformation, along with the range of other planned projects, is thanks to the £18 million awarded to the Council in December 2020 from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, to support town centre improvements in Halifax (£11.7 million) and Elland (£6.3 million).

For more information about the planned Future High Streets projects in Halifax and Elland, and the other major investment and projects happening throughout Calderdale, please visit www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk