Traders who ran their businesses 'without seeing sunlight' for years are relieved to see progress made on a work site. Business owners operating in the Sneinton Market have voiced their excitement and said the area is on the edge of becoming "Nottingham's next big thing".
Fences were put up in the market around three years ago on the privately-owned land. While the development plans have not yet been confirmed by the firm, it is understood that they entail student accommodation, and more shopping units.
Georgie Thornton, 62, moved into her current unit at the Sneinton Market four months before the fences were installed. She said: "It has been a long time coming.
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"We had no idea that the fences will be here for so long - it came out of nowhere. We have not seen the sunlight all this time because we had the fence blocking it."
Ms Thornton runs Wiff Waff design, a business that sells dogs' accessories made from scratch. She added: "Recently we had customers coming in who never heard of us before because our shop was hidden away."
She said that the fences were taken down on Tuesday (February 8) and now she is "excited for whatever is next for the area". "It is a great relief," she added.
Another trader who operates next door has big hopes for the future of the market. "I think it is the next big thing for Nottingham", said Martin Sommerville from his shopping unit once hidden by fences covered in graffiti." He added: "It is nice to see people again, to see the trees and have that life back into the community. I am so excited.
"The days when the Old Market Square was the place where people would go to are gone now, and it started dripping down onto Lace Market and Hockley. I think the Sneinton Market is on the edge of becoming the hotspot."
The 44-year-old, who runs a community hub in the market, said: "We are missing the graffiti on the fences and I hope that the developer will be able to incorporate that. It was something that brought more life to this area. I am looking forward to seeing more life and people in this area. I think it is great news."
It comes after Sneinton has been named Nottingham's Convent Garden by a pub-owner in the area, and was recognised for its business potential. Now, more people hope that the development will bring more footfall to the area.
Bradley Llewellyn, assistant manager at Blend cafe in Sneinton Market, 24, went on and said: "It will be lovely once it is complete. It is the local community and independent businesses that make Sneinton a special place. Even from a business perspective, it will bring more footfall here so that is great news."
A spokesperson for the ongoing project on the work site declined to comment. Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council and ward councillor for Dales, said: “Sneinton Market is an important part of the city-centre offer which we were able to begin developing a few years ago with European funding.
"Since then, it has become home to a number of local creative businesses and is a vibrant area of Nottingham, popular with older and younger people alike. It has attracted a different kind of retailer to Sneinton and the ongoing redevelopment of privately-owned sections of the site is contributing to that unique retail experience for shoppers and visitors.”
