Fears for the future after market hall put up for auction

Yahoo

11 hours ago

Concerns have been voiced after traders arrived at work one morning – to find the market hall listed for auction.
Little Lever Market Hall is currently listed for auction on July 8, 2025, with a guide price of £300k.
The listing is on RightMove and it is being marketed by Auction House Manchester.
The description states the property is a 'well-known market hall' in a 'prominent main road position in Little Lever, Bolton.'
It says that it is 'set up as a market hall with stall areas including a bakery and café.'
The description adds: 'The property may be suitable for sympathetic redevelopment/development for apartments subject to the necessary consents.'
One market trader, who wants to stay anonymous, said: 'Obviously the worry is someone comes in with a lot of money – maybe from London – buys the building and knocks it down to build flats.'
They said that all of the traders have known the hall has been for sale for about 18 months – but the auction listing came as a shock.
The trader said: 'We haven't been given any notice – when we came back into work on Monday the sign was up.
'We knew it was up for sale, and they haven't been able to sell it."
Liam Barnard, councillor for Little Lever and Darcy Lever, said he hoped any buyer would keep the market in place.
He said: 'It's a focal point in Little Lever with shops and a cafe that I use regularly – hopefully whoever buys it will keep it as its current use.'
Cllr Barnard said that it was 'concerning' that redevelopment into flats was listed as a potential use.
He said: 'Not because I don't think we need more houses, but it's a place where people can gather.
'To me – that's the sort of stuff we need in Little Lever – if you turn it into flats then we lose that commodity that they would use.'
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The trader said that one of the market stalls has been there for over 35 years, and that all four traders in the building have spent years building their reputation.
The trader said: 'Bolton is just in massive decline – but 20 years ago it was absolutely thriving – the town centre has just been left to suffer.
'This market hall has stood the test of time and the local people have kept this going for 35 years.
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'The community holds us in good regard with all the friendships and reputations we have built.
'A lot of families within Little Lever – mums, dads and grandparents – all still come in here.
'It would be a sad thing to see it go.'