Cambridge Council "not out to destroy" market square amid plans for multi-million pound revamp

A local council has said it is not "out to destroy" a thousand year-old city market, which could be transformed as part of a multi-million pound project.

Cambridge City Council want to revamp its 1,200 year old Market Square as part of its Civic Quarter project but there has been mixed reactions to the idea.

The authority's plans would see a resurfacing of the area and 27 new permanent stalls erected under a lightweight canopy, with space for a further 64 movable stalls for "additional trading" on weekends and in busier months.

But there are fears from local traders and shoppers that the planned works could potentially threaten its future.

Simon Smith, executive councillor for finance and resources at Cambridge City Council, said: "There are people worried that we are about to destroy the market; if there is one thing about the 1,200-year market it is resilience."

The plans also include improvements to the nearby Guildhall and Corn Exchange.

The council have earmarked £3m to develop design proposals further and progress through to a planning application in autumn 2025.

Some market traders had shared concerns about the proposals including the market becoming smaller and questioning whether the moveable stalls would be usable.

Smith said the project was still in the early stages and the authority would discuss designs and proposals with traders and the public.

At a council meeting on Thursday, he said: "It survived Vikings, Norman Conquest, several outbreaks of the Black Death, Civil War, multiple harvest failures, innumerable economic recessions, two world wars, can we just get a sense of perspective in this city, this council is not out to destroy the market."

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