A major restoration of Cardiff's historic Central Market is now fully funded, with work expected to begin in summer 2024. The date was given after Cardiff Council successfully secured the final £3.1 million from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns programme to make up the full £6.5m needed for the project .

Plans to give Cardiff's Central Market a major facelift was approved by Cardiff council in August. Planning permission to restore some of the Victorian building's original features and install a new seating area was first sought in June. You can find the full details here.

Earlier this year it was that announced that a £2.1 million had been grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to go towards the upgrade of the Grade II listed building. The remainder of the restoration work is being funded via the Shared Prosperity Fund and direct investment from the council. . For the latest Cardiff news, sign up to our newsletter here

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The market is owned by Cardiff council and is home to 61 independent businesses. The council previously said businesses would remain open throughout the works, with some traders relocated into nearby temporary accommodation.

The restoration will see original design features revealed, traditional entrances and original stalls restored, the iconic glass roof repaired, and improvements made to the Victorian drainage system.

Repairs will also be made to the H.Samuel market clock, a ‘false floor' installed at the Trinity Street entrance in the 1960s will be removed, and a new activity and education room introduced, along with a new 70-seat eating area. The plans also include new energy-efficient LED lighting and roof-mounted solar panels.

Council Leader, Councillor Huw Thomas said: "The confirmation of this funding from Welsh Government is fantastic news. The Market is one of Cardiff's most important heritage buildings, as well as a vital city centre space for small independent traders. Anybody who has visited in recent years will know that it's a special place, with a unique atmosphere built on 130 years of history. Our restoration plans will preserve and protect that history and ensure that it remains the bustling heart of the city that we all know and love, for many years to come."

Welsh Government Climate Change Minister, Julie James said: "We want town and city centres across Wales to be the beating heart of Welsh communities, where people can access services, shops, communal and cultural spaces.

"Cardiff Market is a vital asset which significantly adds to the region's shopping, visitor and cultural experience and has a key role to play in generating footfall and supporting the wider city centre economy. The project will also contribute to our decarbonisation goals by improved energy efficiency and increasing the renewable energy supply through solar panels.

"This is another fantastic example of the real difference Transforming Towns funding can make to securing a sustainable future for landmark buildings in our town and city centres that will enhance the visitor experience for generations to come, and I look forward to seeing works progress."

Following advice from independent experts, and consultation with existing traders in the market, it is proposed that the Market remains open during the restoration work. To enable this, the work will take place on a phased basis with aisles of tenants being temporarily relocated to units on the Hayes, immediately outside the Market, for up to 12 weeks.

A council briefing added: "To enable the delivery of the new ground floor seating area, proposed for the central block of the northern aisle, a small number of traders will be relocated within the Market. To ensure that displaced tenants are offered the best alternative locations in the market the Council will reserve any vacated stalls until the completion of the restoration for these tenants."

They added that rents, which have been held since 2017 because of the pandemic, will remain at existing levels throughout the restoration project.