The Market Square needs significant investment to secure long-term economic and social value for the city, and the council is committed to supporting the seven-day market to continue and thrive in the long-term.
Improvements are being proposed through the council’s Civic Quarter project to reimagine the area in central Cambridge comprising the Guildhall, Corn Exchange, Market Square and public spaces in between. The proposals for the Market Square will build on the vision for the Market Square that was agreed in March 2022.
This vision is for a bustling seven-day market which is an accessible, attractive, welcoming, exciting and safe place to visit, shop and gather during the day and into the evening. This vision continues to inform the developing proposals for the Market Square.
A combination of new permanent stalls alongside new demountable stalls will mean the market can contract or expand in accordance with demand from traders, so that part of the Market Square would be available for additional trading during busier days and months, or to provide flexible space for occasional events.
The proposals
The proposals for the Market Square have been continuously evolving incorporating feedback from both public engagement programmes, as well as market traders, market experts, heritage officers and the police.
The proposals include:
- 96 stalls in total (an increase from the initial proposal of 91) - with a commitment that all current traders would be able to return
- 44 permanent stalls (an increase from the initial proposal of 27) - meaning traders who trade most often will benefit from new lockable stalls
- 52 demountable stalls. Following a trial of one demountable stall product during the summer, during which traders expressed concerns about assembly time, the impact of hot/adverse weather on performance, comfort of the stalls, and fixing the stalls into the ground, a second trial is expected to commence in February 2026
- retaining and refurbishing the existing fountain on the market, with the aspiration of making it fully functioning in the long-term
- a covered seating area featuring parasols around the fountain, along with trees providing shelter. The proposals respond to feedback about antisocial behaviour in covered areas not being caught on CCTV
- a support package for market traders during works on the Market Square, including offering a 50% discount on their rent for the duration of construction (based on stall size prior to works commencing), and a commitment to providing a comparable sized stall to trade from at another site during the works. The temporary market location is still to be confirmed
- a commitment to maintaining traders’ pitch fees at the pre-decant level for the first 12 months on the redeveloped Market Square
- confirmation that toilets for traders will be renovated and remain situated in the Market Square basement to support traders, and that new underground bin facilities will be provided to significantly improve waste storage and collection processes.
Accessibility
The council is committed to making the Market Square, Guildhall, Corn Exchange and surrounding public spaces more inclusive and accessible through the Civic Quarter project.
Anyone who has visited the market will have seen that the floor desperately needs relaying. The pavement, road and setts on and around the market currently prevent people from accessing the market if they are wheelchair or pushchair users.
The proposals include resurfacing the whole area to make it much more accessible, while preserving the Victorian granite setts.
Market traders
We know that some traders continue to have concerns about the proposals.
As we move forward with the detailed design work, we will continue to work with markets experts and traders to identify suitable new stalls - fixed and demountable - that would be sturdy enough for all weather and would work for traders, using designs that have been stress tested by market traders in other places. We still have plenty of time to finalise the detail of fixed and demountable stalls before any works would start in January 2027.
We are working closely with market traders to design a new space that meets their needs, looking at market stall layouts, storage, bins, lighting, and CCTV options to address antisocial behaviour.
Temporary market location during construction
At the January 2026 monthly traders meeting we shared the latest thinking and technical work being explored as we consider possible temporary locations for the market to operate from during any construction period, which would start in January 2027 if the proposals are approved in September 2026.
The current proposals include:
- an option for traders to trade at: King’s Parade, St Mary’s Passage, Petty Cury and Sidney Street
- an option for when some of the locations above are unavailable due to city centre events: St Mary’s Passage, Petty Cury, Sidney Street and Fisher Square
- another option being investigated for the market traders to stay together, such as on an open space like Christ's Piece - acknowledging that planning permission would need to be sought, and that any use would be required to respect the covenants on the site
These proposals are still being worked through, with consideration being given to factors such as servicing, power supply, logistics and the potential impact on individual businesses.
This work will continue between now and autumn 2026. We will continue with an extensive programme of engagement with traders including through monthly closed meetings, with traders involved as proposals are refined.
