A new city centre “must visit” destination is just one of the ways to regenerate Liverpool’s market offering, it has been claimed.
Establishing a world-renowned set up that reflects community values and supports small businesses will breathe new life into the city’s markets, members of Liverpool Council’s culture and visitor committee have been told.
The findings of a survey with traders, market users and non-users were shared by Danny Collins, director of Savills’ economic team, which will form the basis of a long-term strategy for the city’s markets that is expected to be completed at the end of next month.
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Among the suggestions to be part of the proposed strategy include a new city centre destination market “that is a must visit” - compared to sites in Lisbon and London.
The redevelopment and relocation of existing sites including St Johns and Great Homer Street was also put to councillors this evening.
Almost 700 people responded to the survey - launched in October 2021 - and Mr Collins said market traders had been “open and honest” and were willing to embark on the future opportunities for markets in the city.
He said traders, as small business owners, were keen to see actual change come to fruition and help them through the next few months.
Increasing promotion and advertising of the market events as well as parking provision were key issues for traders responding to the survey.
Mr Collins said there was “no excuse” for people not to know when the city’s markets were on and said the basics must be done right to generate interest, including digitisation and streamlining how markets are managed.
It was said visitors are loyal to their “very valuable assets to their communities” and markets offered a huge opportunity to act as a catalyst for regeneration as well as acting as a place for “communities to come together.”
Trader recruitment is the “biggest strand” to regenerating the city’s market offer and providing new and diverse options with a focus on sustainability would further drive footfall, Mr Collins added.
Cllr Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, described the markets as “the lifeblood of this site” and said initial meetings with traders revealed that they had felt “let down for decades.”
Cllr Doyle said the council was keen to renew its trading offer and its relationship with traders and to do so, big ideas were required.
Costings and phasing of actions will now be considered as the wider report is drafted.
In a statement issued during the meeting, Graham Tuthill, Chair of Great Homer Street market traders, said: "All the meetings we have had have been very positive with lots of great ideas and forward thinking.
"We are all looking forward to working together in the future to improve and revitalise the markets of Liverpool."
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