Traders' shipping container move for market revamp

More than 50 shipping containers which have been stored in a car park for nearly half a decade are to finally be used as part of an anticipated revamp of Dewsbury Market.

Kirklees Council bought the 53 steel containers for £800,000 in 2021 to be used as temporary replacement stalls for traders during the market's proposed £15m facelift.

With plans progressing, traders are due to start using the containers next spring, with the structures expected to be located across Market Place, Longcauseway and Foundry Street, according to the council.

Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said the aim was for not a "single day" of market trading to be missed.

Construction work on the main market site was expected to take about 18 to 24 months, and the temporary market would remain in the town centre throughout, the council said.

A total of 28 of the containers, which would be permanently located in the town centre, would be used, according to the authority.

The majority had already been allocated to existing traders, while others would be used as refrigerated storage and an information hub where traders and visitors to the market could find out more about the plans.

Alongside the containers would be temporary stalls which could be put up and taken down as required, as well as space for food vans or similar to operate from the temporary market, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The market revamp and creation of a brand new town park are two key parts of the Dewsbury Blueprint – the council's overarching masterplan for investment in the town centre.

The authority said its aim was to create more reasons for people to visit the town and spend time there during the daytime but also at night.

Planning permission has already been granted for significant changes to the existing market site, which would see the revamped market and new town park located side-by-side.

Turner said the authority had "put a lot of effort into making sure the decant process" would be seamless and work well for traders.

"Market days are always some of our busiest days in Dewsbury town centre," he added.

"Our aim is that we don't miss a single day of market trading despite the move."

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