Historic England pulls plug on £1m funding for market

But city council still plans to go ahead with repair work

- Phil Corrigan [e-mail]

A MILLION pounds of Government funding for a historic Stoke-on-Trent market building has been withdrawn.

Historic England awarded Stoke-on-Trent City Council £1 million for emergency repairs at Burslem Indoor Market last summer.

But it has now withdrawn the funding due to the large upfront costs of materials being 'non grant compliant,' and concerns that the project would not start on time. Cabinet members at the city council are now set to approve £3.36 million of funding for the work at Burslem Indoor Market, along with £2.6 million for the Wedgwood Institute.

The Grade II-listed Burslem Indoor Market has been out of use for more than 20 years and requires repairs to its roof, brickwork and drainage to make the building watertight. According to a council report, it is still 'crucial' that this work is carried out, despite the Historic England funding being cancelled.

As the building owner, the council will need to 'make up the shortfall if that proves necessary, although 'every effort will be made to secure external contributions. The market has previously been allocated £700,000 of Levelling Up Partnership funding.

The proposed spending on the market includes £500,000 to make it suitable for temporary events such as popup markets, while a permanent redevelopment scheme is brought forward.