Official : People’s Market Arts Hub Plans Submitted

Plans for a new ‘Arts and Creative Industries development’ at the People’s Market in Wrexham have formally been submitted to Wrexham Council’s Planning Department yesterday afternoon, following tweaks as late on as Monday.

Above and below is the first public view of how the Market Street entrance will look.

Wrexham Council say: “The plans include improvements to the overall aesthetic of the ground and first floor of the building, improved space for market stalls and business, an arts galley more than double the size of the former Oriel Wrecsam gallery, studio and learning spaces for the arts and creative industries, a small food court and gift shop.”

“The proposals follow a series of consultations with the general public and meetings with existing traders to establish their needs which the design team specialists ‘Featherstone Young’ have taken into account to create plans to make the building more vibrant. The design seeks to bring more natural light into the building by opening up the vaulted ceilings in the roof structure, creating double height glazed entry to the building off Market Street in addition to retaining current entrances off Chester Street.”

A report regarding the Arts and Creative Industries development project will be going to Executive Board on 12 January, where members will determine if the project will proceed.

The planning application will go through the normal planning consultation process and will be considered by the earliest planning committee following the consultation.

Lead Member for Place / Communities and Partnerships, Cllr Hugh Jones, said: “A tremendous amount of work has gone into carefully designing the space to maximise opportunities to be created for the arts and creative industries alongside space to retain an indoor market in the People’s Market. Feedback from stakeholders has enabled us to maximise the use of space and ensure a broad range of services are proposed within the footprint of the existing building”.

Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Cllr Neil Rogers said “The plans to transform the existing building are part of a wider strategy to support the regeneration of the town centre as part of a three year programme funded through Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places investment programme.”

The full plans are not public as of yet, but are due later this week.

To see what we think is likely close to the final floor plan plus further information click here.