The Market Place
Please note that the Salisbury Vision no longer leads the project to improve the Market Place, and that this page is archived for historical interest only. For more information on the current plans to improve the Market Place, please contact Salisbury Area Board.
Please click one of the links below to read the specific parts of the former project
Background
Current Status
Vision Objective
Proposals
Rationale
Also, we have a Questions and Answers page (FAQ).
Background:
The Market Place is the heart of the medieval city of Salisbury. The area is a bustling and vibrant area and is home to a thriving twice weekly charter market. It is an important public area where people meet and interact.
The Market Place was laid out, largely as it is seen today, in the 13th Century. It was, therefore, deliberately conceived in its current form and has operated as a Market and public space for many hundreds of years.
The site is 1.52 hectares (excluding main buildings) and is bordered by Queen Street to the east, Butcher Row, Ox Row and Fish Row to the south, Minster Street and Oatmeal Row to the west and Blue Boar Row to the north. The site is generally flat and comprises the Guildhall, an area of public car parking which is closed off during market days, a war memorial, the Poultry Cross and public toilets. There are a number of existing shops, cafes, public houses, restaurants and businesses which border the area.
Current Status:
Following the stakeholder and public consultation in 2010, architects Letts Wheeler have prepared revised designs for the Market Place Improvement Project. These remain consistent with their original design concept, however they have responded to the feedback from the public and others in a number of significant ways.
The principal changes to the original design are:
• The water feature has been excluded
• The existing toilets will be retained and improved but a new accessible above ground toilet will still be provided for disabled users
• The proposals need not affect the layout of the twice weekly market
• Substantial cost savings have been achieved against the previous scheme which will be used to facilitate other improvements in the City Centre
• The number of trees to be replaced has been increased from 17 to 25, and the species selected in consultation with the council arboriculturalist and Salisbury City Council
• The number of Blue Badge spaces included in the scheme is more than the number being removed
The Vision submitted a planning application on 5 April 2011, and is in the process of appointing a contractor. It is anticipated that the project will start on site in early 2012.
Please see this page for information on important revisions to the earlier design, including the increase in the number of trees and Blue Badge spaces.
During the construction phase, work is expected to be undertaken in phases to allow the continued operation of the market from the Market Place / Guildhall Square. The Vision and its partners are continuing to liaise with Market Traders, local businesses and other stakeholders as the project moves towards implementation.
Project History:
In August 2008 an international design competition for the Market Place Project was launched in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This attracted 46 expressions of interest from which six teams were shortlisted and asked to work up initial concept designs.
A comprehensive programme of public consultation was undertaken during January 2009. This included a three day public exhibition of the designs in the Guildhall attended by 1,246 people. Specific users of the Market Place, such as the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain and the twice-weekly Charter market traders were also involved in the consultation process.
A judging panel, chaired by councillor Peter Edge, was established to assess the six designs. This panel comprised local specialists, local councillors and two RIBA advisors. The judging panel considered the results of the public consultation and the views of a technical panel that was established to provide specialist advice. The judging panel also interviewed the six shortlisted teams before choosing the preferred team.
The preferred team, led by Letts Wheeler Architects is:
Letts Wheeler Architects
Architect and lead consultant
Martin Stockley Associates
Public Realm Engineer
Wolfgang Buttress
Public Realm Artist
Click here to view Letts Wheeler's winning designs (Image 1)
Click here to view Letts Wheeler's winning designs (Image 2)
Comprehensive consultation has been undertaken with key stakeholders, including the City Council, market traders and other users of the space as well as adjoining businesses and other parties with an interest in the area. This is helping to define the scope of the project and its key design parameters.
Public exhibitions have been held in the Market Place itself, at Salisbury Library, and at Wiltshire College's Salisbury Campus. Please use the links below to access presentations of the proposals.
The above stage of the consultation is now complete.
Now that new designs have been approved, the following stages will include obtaining relevant approvals (town planning etc.) and contractor procurement.
The eventual contractor is anticipated to be appointed this year (2011), and commencement of works is anticipated in the beginning of 2012, subject to the outcome of town planning and contractor procurement.
In terms of implementation, the delivery of the works is expected to be undertaken in phases to allow, wherever possible, the continued operation of the market during the construction phase.
Salisbury Vision and its partners will be consulting with all key stakeholders with regards to the development of the scheme design and the construction timing / phasing.
Rationale:
- To provide a high quality public space in the centre of the city which is designed for pedestrians and where people can congregate for social, leisure and community activities
- To provide an enhanced space for the Charter and other markets
- To act as a catalyst for other Vision projects, particularly commercial development, by creating confidence in the city
