New site secured for Watford Market

Plans to provide a new home for Watford’s charter market have been given the go-ahead. Planning permission was granted on (December 6) to move the market’s location to the former TJ Hughes car park, giving it a High Street entrance. The market will be fully covered with a canopy roof to protect shoppers and traders from adverse weather. A lighting scheme and new signage will better define the market within the town. The ground floor will include stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, with the upper floor providing a food court selling hot food and drink. In all, more than 40 permanent market trading spaces will be created on the 1,620 square metre site. The news was welcomed by Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill: “I believe Watford should have a market that we can all be proud of. We have gone for the best option possible – a two storey market, with stalls spilling out onto The Parade, and open five days a week.” Watford’s first market launched in the 12^th century, and has moved to various sites over the years. Its current home is within the Charter Place shopping centre. Of the move to the TJ Hughes site, Grant Adams, Chairman of Market Traders Association at Watford Market, said: “The traders have been working closely with the council to create a new modern market place which will hopefully appeal to a wider audience than the current market hall. The market has evolved many times in the past and I have every faith this latest incarnation will be no different.” The new market will be managed by Town & Country Markets, which currently operate 16 markets across the country and have led redevelopments including Old Spitalfields. Watford Borough Council is leasing the site from Legal & General Property, who have also secured leases that see the return of Clements and the opening of BM Bargains at the same site. Mayor Thornhill added: “Together with the new market, these openings will create real vibrancy in this part of the town centre and will attract more shoppers and visitors which will be a boost to the surrounding shops and restaurants. This is another piece of great news for our town centre and I can’t wait to see it all finished next year.” The market in Charter Place will continue trading until the opening of the new site next summer.