A 'container-style' food village could soon open in Leeds as the council looks to make use of free space at Leeds Kirkgate Market.
The outdoor market has space for 185 stalls, but only 85 of them are currently being filled on a 'typical' day of trading. It means a sizeable portion of the site is often left empty.
In a bid to make better use of the space, Leeds City Council (LCC) has drawn up provisional plans to reduce the number of outdoor stalls, with the remaining pitches being positioned adjacent to the indoor market.
If the scheme gets the green light, the newly-created space would then become home to a 'container-style' food village, similar to the ones already found in London and Manchester. The venue would likely be built from refurbished shipping containers.
LCC says the food village would "aim to boost week-round footfall across the whole market site – indoor and outdoor – by bringing in a diverse mix of customers, with a specific focus being placed on appealing to children and families during weekend daytimes." The authority also hopes the food village would provide a "significant income stream" as a drop in occupancy at the outdoor market has meant a drop in incoming stall rents.
The plans will be put before executive board members on Wednesday, December 14. If approved, a public consultation will follow which will involve traders, customers and business owners based near the market. The findings of the consultation could then be considered at an executive board meeting in February.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's executive member for economy, culture and education, said: "Leeds Kirkgate Market is a historic part of the fabric of life in our city and, as such, we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure it remains a modern, exciting and inclusive shopping destination.
"It is therefore important to explore imaginative new ways to make the best use of all the market space, particularly at a time when the council, like many other local authorities nationwide, is facing hugely difficult financial challenges. If the consultation is approved, we will be encouraging as many people as possible to have their say on these plans for the outdoor market – and it’s crucial to stress that no decision has been taken on the proposals, this is an ongoing process and one that we are keen to ensure involves plenty of listening and dialogue."
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