Plan For New Arts Hub And Market Space Revealed

Plans for the proposed Arts Hub sited inside the People’s Market were due to be unveiled last month – however with no official documents submitted as of yet, we take a look at a plan we have seen.

The full and final planning documents have not been made public despite being told they were due in November, however Wrexham.com has had sight of the latest version of the proposed floor plan for the yet formally named centre and is displayed below.

One insider previously told us that the plan includes a new theatre style auditorium with well over 100 seats and a flexible ‘market square’ space with self contained moveable stalls that can be securely ‘stowed’.

Permanent market space around the edge of the development will be created or adjusted, with the entrances from Chester Street containing shops or studios, for market traders of ‘creative industries’. Described as a ‘multi use space’ we have been told this could range from existing traders to smaller digital or creative companies.

The new main entrance will be ‘impressive’ facade from Market Street, double height with lots of glass and a ‘bridge’ allowing a view down into the gallery and market space.  The second floor will have a mix of office space, some to hire, and workshop space for the arts community.

The new brand is thought to be “Oriel Wrexham People’s Market” although that is yet to be confirmed.

When asked to comment on the process and outcomes, one person linked to Wrexham’s arts community said: “It has actually come through. The architects have actually listened.” The plans are described to us as ‘a genuine blend of market trading and culture reflective of the wider purpose’.

Talking to a market trader who is still sceptical of the plans  noted that the new middle floor space ‘would work’ however without new food and ‘everyday products’ on offer the market will not succeed. Such extra choices has already been identified in a previous consultation as a demand area and an option that looked like it was going to progress.

One major area of concern voiced is over how the remodelling and development will affect the market, ‘trading from a building site for twelve months’ being described as ‘horrendous’ with a prediction that ‘most traders will not survive’. We asked if alternative town centre shops could be used during that time, with talk of the old TJ Hughes being used to house traders. We were told: “If we were Tesco and doing what is being done you would not put fish in one shop and groceries in another. We never want to be split up, but the Council does not have anywhere else. I am a market trader, not a High Street trader.”

Speaking of the forthcoming meeting on Wednesday where Councillors will review the performance of the markets, we were told that some of the figures released are ‘cruel’ as they ‘give the impression the markets are losing money’. Others have called into question some of the figures in the report to Councillors, so we asked Wrexham Council if the Lead Member and the Chair of the meeting has confidence in the accuracy of the report. Further we asked for comment on if the trader’s view of ongoing long term profitably of the markets is accurate, and if the Council ought to have reinvested in them in better financial times.

Wrexham Council replied confirming they ‘are aware of the traders concerns’ and ‘will inform the chair of the scrutiny committee’.

The below plan of the new plans shows the Chester Street entrances at the top, with the new and improved entrance from Holt street at the bottom.

We have included the previous floor plan below to compare against, which have been flipped upside down to ensure its alignment matches the above.

Below, again flipped, is an early draft of the proposals for the Hub / Market mix, which have been altered in the latest believed final version. The initial sketch plan for the market / hub area is also below.

We are told the initial plans for further development on further floors of the People’s Market have been scrapped. This means the car park will remain, as a potential revenue source for the markets / hub, likewise the open air cinema and other roof level items will not be built.

Details have also recently appeared of plans (that will not be happening) involving the town’s Library and original Oriel Gallery. Plans would have seen a double height ‘grand atrium’ gallery named ‘The Street’, a sculpture court outside, plus a whole new frontage and side improvements.

The development plans for the Library were scrapped in favour of the old gallery space being used by North Wales Police in a new town police station as their old one gets decommissioned, and a move of the gallery to the reconfigured People’s Market.

Councillors are due to have two meetings to look at the Oriel Wrexham People’s Market plans, one via the Planning system once a full application has been lodged, and a second via Scrutiny of the business and economic plans including its impact on the town. The latter meeting has been pushed back until January as the relevant Lead Member was unable to attend the previously planned meeting.

For previous coverage and background to the Arts Hub / Peoples Market plans – view our archive here…