ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE’S indoor market will see new food and beverage stalls, new seating zones, a play area and flexible workspace, if plans are approved.
Tameside Council has submitted its vision for the Victorian building as it looks for a reconfiguration.
Three rows of stalls at its southern end, nearest Bow Street, will be affected by the new facilities.
According to documents, a rubber-floored play area will be placed next to the entrance at the Old Street/Market Avenue corner – which is currently occupied by The Egg Nest. A toilet and storeroom will be on the other side and it will only be accessible during the day
Four new food and beverage units will be placed along the Bow Street wall, where a number already exist, and three more will be situated on the other side of what is called a ‘flexible seating zone.’
Further along will be an exhibition space and a flexible workspace, while according to drawings Ashton Farmhouse Deli, which has been on the market for more than 100 years, will remain in place with new signage, frontage and a shutter.
Documents supporting the application state the renovation would ‘help revitalise the Interior Market in the heart of Ashton-under-Lyne town centre, by providing dedicated space for food and beverage offer, secure internal gates and a flexible creative workspace suite.’
A ‘small number’ of external alterations are proposed, including existing obscured glazing units being replaced with clear double-glazed units.
However, in certain locations, opaque film will be applied to new glazing panels to match existing areas of obscured glass.
Roof plant and two new extract ducts will support the food and beverage stalls and cooking facilities, with two smaller extract pipes – none of which will be prominent – to serve the new toilets.
Current stallholders have previously raised doubts over the plans, but documents supporting this application say why it is felt the reconfiguration is needed.
They state: “While the arrangement provides stall frontage and multiple routes through the building, some aisles are narrow and limit clear sightlines between different areas.
“The proposed reconfiguration retains the historic open volume of the Market Hall and works within the existing structural grid, ensuring the building’s original spatial rhythm and visual legibility are preserved.
“The stall arrangement continues to follow the established layout pattern, with new units positioned in line with the existing stall footprints to avoid fundamental changes to the primary circulation routes.
“This approach allows the market to function in a familiar way while creating new opportunities for seating, working, and events.
“The scheme opens up central areas of the market, particularly along an east–west axis, to create flexible, airy spaces for exhibitions, informal seating, and creative working.
“Between stalls, new seating zones will accommodate people eating from food and beverage vendors, as well as those wishing to use the market as a casual workspace.
“The proposed creative working stall includes breakout space to support collaborative activities, while still integrating seamlessly into the wider market environment.
“To improve functionality and visitor experience, the proposals introduce two new WCs and a dedicated children’s play space, positioned to be easily accessible without disrupting stall trading.
“The works also make productive use of underutilised space currently occupied by four unused stalls, converting it into more usable and adaptable areas.
“The proposals maintain the Market Hall’s existing access arrangements, ensuring that the building remains inclusive and easy to navigate for all visitors.
“The internal reconfiguration has been guided by the established circulation routes created by the existing stall layout, meaning that primary movement patterns remain familiar to regular users.
“The removal of a small number of irregularly shaped stalls to the south of the plan has allowed the creation of a new open, flexible seating space.
“This intervention not only improves the visual openness of the hall but also increases the width of key circulation areas, providing greater accessibility and ease of movement between stalls.
“By building on the established circulation structure and removing obstructive elements, the proposals enhance accessibility without altering the historic fabric or overall spatial character of the listed building.
“The proposed new stall design has been developed to work within the existing grid of the Market Hall, ensuring it sits comfortably beneath the roof and between the slender column lines without obscuring key architectural features.
“The proposed flexible working space introduces a distinctive, self-contained pod, designed to provide a dedicated environment for collaborative work, events, and creative activities while remaining visually open to the public.
“The plan is shaped to maintain clear circulation, with a chamfered corner containing an angled glazed panel that offers a deliberate glimpse into the activity inside a subtle visual cue to draw public interest.
“Internally, a retractable sliding wall allows the space to be divided into two independent areas, each with its own access point, enabling simultaneous but separate uses when required.”
Ashton Market Hall, a Grade-II listed building, is described as ‘a key focal point in the town’s historic core.’
Documents add: “The hall continues to be a vibrant centre for commerce, social interaction, and community events, contributing significantly to the conservation area’s character, the town’s economic vitality, and its enduring identity as a market town.”
Tameside Council’s Speakers Panel (Planning) committee, or officers, will decide whether to grant or refuse planning permission.