Liverpool Council has declared that St Johns Market will not re-open for stall holders as efforts commence to recoup millions in debts owed by former businesses. After almost a year since traders were left outside the central city location when the hall closed, the council is now considering alternative uses for the unoccupied site.
Councillor Nick Small told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that he understood people might be disappointed, but asserted that "the best days lay ahead" for the hall.
The LDRS understands that following an appraisal begun after last March's closure by property consultants Avison Young, two promising options for re-purposing the site are now under scrutiny.
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One option could see the space become a leisure venue, offering food and beverage selections catering to evening patrons, much like the Baltic Market.
The council said in 2023 that it was looking to recover of three years' worth of arrears from traders who occupied the market. After a resolution could not be found, the decision was made to close the premises the subsequent spring.
Cllr Small, the cabinet member responsible for growth and economy, told the LDRS about the imminent efforts to recover around £2.1m in debts, prioritising those who owe the most. He added: "What we don't think is feasible is to reopen it as a market.
"We're not going to be doing that. There are options here, it's an exciting site.
"In terms of the leisure facility, there's nothing like this in that part of the city, it's crying out for something like that and could really add value."
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Cllr Small also pointed out plans to carry out refurbishments on the market hall, which include conducting assessments for capital investment necessary to modernise and "bring it into the 21st century."
This announcement follows a series of challenges for St Johns Market. The council had already injected £2.5m into renovations in 2016, efforts which failed to win favour with consumers and traders alike. Then-Mayor Joe Anderson had offered traders up to six months of free rent in attempts to retain them and boost footfall at the time.
However, the annual expenditure of approximately £1m by the city council to subsidise the market proved unsustainable. Recent examinations by officials have found that the arrears accumulated by several businesses have escalated from an initial £1.7m to the current figure of £2.1m.
The council is also exploring the possibility of establishing a training centre within the building to deliver social value projects. Discussing the future of the site, Cllr Small noted: "It's about looking at where we are and the city moving forward.
"We have destination markets at Stanley Park and Great Homer Street, as St Johns once was. Since the decision was made, numerous new markets have emerged, making it an exciting time for them in Liverpool."
Cllr Small also expressed optimism about the site's future, stating that its "best days lay ahead".
In a December conversation with the LDRS, council chief Liam Robinson expressed regret over the market's closure, stating: "Obviously it was a terrible shame that the market ended in the way that it did but we obviously are going through the process of pursuing the outstanding debts from the businesses on a case by case basis as we do with everyone that owes money to the council done within the relevant legal advice that obviously we always have to."
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