The future of Northwich outdoor market – 12 months on from fire

The fire was reported around 3am on January 3, 2020, and at its height eight fire crews from across the county were at the scene.

Traders were unable to return to the covered market site and were offered stalls at the indoor market to replace them.

A fundraising concert four weeks later raised an impressive £12,500, as thousands flocked to the historic Plaza to see a host of artists ‘paint the town with music’.

It was an early blow for the town months before Covid-19 arrived, but work has since been underway to prepare the site for a new lease of life.

The market was demolished in the months that followed, and plans are now in place for an outdoor events area, with al-fresco space for businesses to use.

Speaking to the Guardian when the plans were announced, Cllr Sam Naylor said: “The idea is that if people want to use it for events, or the businesses surrounding it want it for al-fresco purposes, they can – places like Vinnies, or Abda, or Salty Dog, let them use it to enable their businesses to prosper.

"I have already heard from people want to do events on it. We are just looking forward to the end of Covid so we can get some really good events on there."

Cllr Naylor expects the new outdoor space to be used for three or four years before the wider Weaver Square regeneration scheme takes place.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is yet to make a decision on the planning application for the site, which is now flattened following the market's demolition.