A cosmopolitan food market is planned for a rundown street in Middlesbrough town centre.
A high quality food market is planned for Bedford Street - parallel to the “independent quarter” on Baker Street which has seen a surge in the number of businesses setting up shop.
Modelled on London’s busy Borough Market, Bedford Street will see a “21st century culinary bazaar” under new plans by Middlesbrough Council, which go before the executive on Tuesday.
Currently there are two businesses on Bedford Street with the remaining properties empty and/or derelict.
Jomast owns all of the empty properties on Bedford Street and has already secured planning permission to redevelop the properties to bring them back into use as ground floor retail units and first floor flats.
Work has started and is expected to be completed by the spring.
To complement the upgrade of the premises, the council has approved £250,000 capital funding to implement a programme of improvements similar to Baker Street.
Economic development officer Michelle McPhee said in her report to be presented to the council’s executive on Tuesday: “The long-term ambition is to establish a permanent indoor high quality food market, creating a town centre attraction for visitors to explore and discover and savour a unique atmosphere.”
The plans are part of a Baker and Bedford Street area action plan which includes four phases.
The first phase - £187,000 investment to enhance the area - has been started with new Victorian style lighting and signage to be installed.
The second phase is the council and Jomast’s redevelopment of Bedford Street.
The food market is phase three and Mrs McPhee said a business plan for the market will be presented to the executive in the summer.
Phase four is to “grow the momentum” from Baker and Bedford Street to Linthorpe Road, Albert Road and Grange Road.
She said the benefits will be that the plan will increase footfall and spend in the town centre, improve night time economy offer, change the image of the area and generate jobs.
The executive has three options: do nothing, leave redevelopment to the private sector or the preferred option of implementing the Baker and Bedford Street area vision.
The Baker Street project has seen 12 new independent businesses with a further 12 existing businesses supported.
It has brought 17 properties back into use or redeveloped resulting in the street becoming fully occupied.
It is home to niche businesses including two micro pubs, two eateries, two vintage clothing shops and three hair salons.
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