Business owners in Arnold have said the new Market Place opening, known as The AMP, will make a "massive difference" to the town - and that they cannot wait for it to open. Construction work is ongoing at the site of the new market place in the heart of the town centre, which was originally due to open in Spring 2022.
One business has submitted a licensing application to trade in one of the units at the site, and hopes to be in and open by September this year. Work on The AMP is thought to be completed some time later this summer, and is expected to be home to a new Post Office among others.
And business owners opposite the development can't wait for it to be functional and to attract more people to the area. It's hoped to boost business for them too.
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Julie Pearson, 65, owner of First Class Boutique, said: "I think it will make a massive difference to Arnold. I hope there will be some nice shops there and that more people around will bring us more business here.
"It would be good to get more shops there that mean you do not have to go into the city to get something, and if people are going to travel, you want something different. I wanted to have a shop there and have a jewellers, but I can't move there.
"I'm not sure it will be a good thing if all the businesses are newer or independent there, as there could be empty shops if things do not go to plan. I've been here for 38 years, and I'm excited and can't wait for them to get on with it now.
"The work taking place has been very noisy and very dirty, but I'm excited for it to open. We had windows cracked here from the heavy machinery, but that's all been sorted now and the men that work on site are very friendly."
Thikimlien Hoang, owner of La Petite Nail Spa, said: "It's been a bit noisy sometimes when we've left the door open. But the work has not affected our business, and we've been here for six years.
"I think more people will come to this part of Arnold. I'm looking forward to it opening."
Siobhan Gorewoda, who works for DK Clothing, said: "It's not bothered us at all, we've not had one customer saying it has. They keep asking what's going to be in there though.
"The renovation work hasn't really affected us either. It's all boarded off so you can't really see it, which makes it better.
"I hope it helps once it's open as more people will be going in there, but time will tell. We'll have been here for six years in September, and we've got such wonderful and loyal customers; we've been OK because of them since we came back from Covid."
