PLANNERS unveiled the latest developments in Accrington's multi-million-pound Market Square project at the town's Rege-neration Assembly meeting last Thursday evening.
Assembly members were given a virtual guided tour of the site, showing what stage construction work is at, and giving an artist's impression of what the finished development will look like.
The new development will include three pavilions housing a total of 94 market stalls. They will be open-sided but security shutters will be put in place during the evenings. The passage connecting Peel Street with Broadway will be called Market Way.
The new market is linked to the construction of additional stores on Broadway, including Wilkinson's, JJB Sports, Sally Hair and Beauty and Supercuts.
Director of Hyndburn FIRST, Mr Nigel Rix, said that the new development was progressing well and the pavilions would be ready for business in March, with the new stores starting to open from 10 May.
Mr Rix added: "It has become much clearer in recent weeks how the pavilions are shaping up. Security will be provided by a number of specially designed shutters with the acorn emblem on them. Everything within the pavilions will be fully enclosed and shuttered off.
"It would seem it would be better that we open Market Way at the same time as the Market Pavilion starts trading. We felt if Market Way was open to the public, but the pavilion was not ready, there could be danger of confusion. We think it will be a late February, early March situation.
"The further construction is due to be completed on 10 May but that may have to be reviewed slightly because of frosty weather conditions after Christmas. There will then be a period of time for the various shops to be fitted out. These vary in length between a few weeks and a few months, depending on the individual shop.
"The opening up of the shops will take place at a different rate."
The council has been working closely with open market traders to get their opinions on the development and have asked traders where they would like to be located within the new market.
