Sowerby Bridge Market

Client: Calderdale Council/ Sowerby Bridge Town Board

Location: West Yorkshire

Cost: £1.25M

Area: -

Project Type: Public Realm

Following the success of the Public Realm Vision for Sowerby Bridge, XQLA were commissioned to support the town board to renew the existing market space at the centre of the town. The market was relocated from its original location, by the River Calder, 10 years ago to the more prominent central location; between Wharf Street and Tuel Lane Car Park. However, due to the limited nature of the market offer and poor design quality, the market now fails to attract the footfall to sustain it; and instead becoming a significant location for antisocial behaviour. The scheme relocates the public space away from noise and poor air quality of Wharf Street (A58) and instead engages it with the Rochdale Canal, providing a much-enhanced setting for the deepest lock in the UK, and a distinctive public offer at the centre of the town. Designed to be adaptable for a wide range of community activities, as well as the market, the reconfiguration of the public realm also delivers a shared routeway for the NCN 66; an important commuter and visitor cycle link from the Rochdale Canal to the River Calder.