£120,000 to renovate Newport's historic market hall
An historic building in Newport will see major restoration work, with owners spending "a six figure sum" to bring it back into use.
The 19th century Market Hall, in The Square, was purpose built in 1860 and later utilised as a town hall and social venue with a court room on the ground floor.
Owners Newport Market Company will spend £120,000 on the first phase of their work, restoring the first floor ballroom which has been empty for nearly two decades.
A spokesman for the company said: "We have been looking at ways of making use of the ballroom for some considerable time. It has always been a challenge to find a tenant and the room has been unoccupied for over 18 years.
"The ballroom remains a magnificent space benefitting from high ceilings with cornice edging and three ceiling roses, together with a sprung dance floor, but sadly it is now unsuitable for modern user requirements."
The ballroom will be brought back to its former glory, but it will also incorporate 21st century facilities.
It is understood that a deal has been agreed in principle with a prospective tenant to the take a long term lease for the room. Existing tenants of the ground floor shops will not be affected by the renovation work.
The work has already been given planning permission by Telford & Wrekin Council.
In their application, agent Colin Silk said: "The main dance hall has ornate features which relate principally to the main ceiling.
"There is an extensive ornate decorative frieze around the perimeter of the ballroom, all of which will remain untouched and will not form part of any structural alteration.
"The refurbishment of the building, apart from the two structural openings will involve works of alteration which generally are demountable and will not affect the main structure of the building.
"Without these works the building will remain unoccupied and therefore a wasted asset for, not only the market company that owns the building, but also to the local community."
"The proposed use of the building could not be better as it will bring back into use the ballroom as it was originally intended."
The company also revealed that once this phase of the project had been completed, it would be considering plans for the modernisation of the indoor market buildings on Stafford Street. The company said that when commercially viable, they were prepared to invest in Newport’s high street "despite the threat from out of town stores and internet selling".
