Rochdale Market set to operate three days a week from new Lord Square site

Market, pictured on the site of the old 'Black Box', will operate Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Lord Square

Rochdale Market is set to operate three days a week from the new temporary location at Lord Square outside the empty Beale’s (former Westgate) store at the bottom of Yorkshire Street.

Following the closure at the former ‘Black Box’ temporary site on Saturday 16 September, the market will be open from Thursday 21 September on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

In addition to relocating, the stalls have reduced in numbers with just 19 gazebo stalls available.

Rochdale Borough Council confirmed stalls at Lord Square were allocated after 37 traders submitted applications. The licences of unsuccessful traders terminated with effect from the close of business on Saturday 16 September.

A spokesman for the Council said: “Stalls were allocated on the basis of the information provided on the application forms and records held by the existing market manager, which included individual trader attendance records.

“Stalls were allocated in a way that is intended to ensure a wide variety of products and goods while achieving the best quality available and in keeping with the council’s commitment to enhancing the retail offer in Rochdale town centre.”

After the Exchange Shopping Centre was sold in October 2013, traders operated from the old ‘Black Box’ site – itself a temporary measure - for two and a half years without basic facilities, such as running water, electricity, heating and toilets.

A new permanent market, run by specialists Quarterbridge, is set to open on The Butts and in the former Santander building, alongside the re-opened river Roch, next Easter. The Santander building and The Butts were the preferred locations for the market after it moved from the Exchange Shopping Centre in 2015, but work on opening the river on The Butts prevented the move.

Initially the market was expected to be operating from its new location by Easter this year. The timescale for the opening of the permanent market has been extended to allow the proposals to be improved. The council has carried out extensive survey work in the former Santander building and, following discussion with Quarterbridge, realised that the site has more potential than originally envisaged.

Further work to adapt and renovate the Santander building will commence on Monday 18 September.

“Remedial work has already been completed but the scope of works has been increased from additional surveys,” the Council spokesman added.