Plans for major revamp of Wrexham Butchers Market given go-ahead

The multi-million pound redevelopment of the historic markets has been approved by Wrexham Council's planning department. 

The Grade II-listed General and Butchers markets lie at the heart of the Wrexham City Centre Conservation Area and forms part of the Wrexham Townscape Heritage Scheme funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government – Transforming Towns Fund, and Wrexham Council's capital programme.

The Butcher’s Market was opened in 1848 and the General Market in 1879; and they are both now in need of essential maintenance, repairs and modernisation, according to the council. Tenants of the market were temporarily moved out of it in October to make way for the ensuing refurbishment. 

A planning application submitted last year states that the following improvements will be made.

Building Fronting High Street:

• Develop new layout proposal to utilise first floor space above High Street.

• Provide new access to the upper floors above the High Street entrance, including DDA compliant stair and lift.

• Incorporate DDA compliant ramp access serving the High Street entrance to ensure the refurbished Butchers Market is accessible to all.

• Create a more attractive and functional entrance to draw people into the market building, with the option of forming new advertising space.

Main Market Hall: 

• Improve the usable stall space of the market and provide improved storage facilities.

• Review and re-design perimeter stalls and inner stalls to accommodate greater flexibility and enable a wider variety of traders, including increased food offer (e.g. consideration of power points, water, waste, extraction).

• Provide refurbishment plans that incorporate utilities and services to shop units attached to the Butchers Market from the High Street entrance.

• Improve internal decoration and retain traditional existing authentic stall appearance and style where appropriate.

• Explore combining historic unit 24 with street facing unit No. 10A into one large unit to be used as space for the relocation of the existing butchers.

• Improve WC provision and bin storage within the market.

• Provide a lift to enable access to the basement area for traders and to upper floorspace above High Street to enable safe DDA compliant access for all. Portion of basement area to be utilised as additional storage space for market traders.

• Existing flagstone floors to remain and be repaired, along with historic shop fronts.

• Refurbish roof to stop leakages.

• Ensure roof glass doesn’t bleach products on sale from stall holders and has the appropriate UVA protection. 

Market Extension Fronting Henblas Street and No. 40 Henblas Street:

• Explore relocating the existing café within unit 15 into No. 40 Henblas Street. Significant refurbishment works required to this unit to include replacement ground floor and formation of new compliant staircase to unlock the first floor of No. 40 and first floor above Unit 16 and 17.

• Install a new central handrail to stairs leading to rear entrance from Henblas Street. 

A planning statement submitted as part of the application said: "The Butchers Market is a real asset to Wrexham town and contributes significantly to the character and rich narrative of the remaining historic centre.

"It’s vital these buildings are repaired and refurbished to ensure their continued use and contribution to the historic townscape. It’s also critical that both markets continue to develop to meet the needs of a constantly evolving customer base. The proposals for both schemes have been developed closely with WCBC and following various consultations with the tenants of both markets. The key aspect of the proposals is to broaden the appeal of the markets by creating a more coherent and adaptable series of spaces, which work to enhance the current offer but also entice new traders in.

"The proposals look to reverse the current decline of the market building, act as a catalyst to further town centre investment and create new vibrant destination places within the centre of Wrexham. Construction and phasing works to appropriately deliver the indoor markets are considerable, but this opportunity will improve the fabric and historic heart of Wrexham."