WORK is to start later this month to restore Brierley Hill Market’s historic high street frontage.

As part of ongoing regeneration work in the town, the project will see the market’s frontage improved and its historic character brought back.

The work will see external roller shutters removed and replaced with a new glazed fanlight within the original arch and new bi-fold gates below to formalise the main entrance.

Other historic features – including the lost glazed canopy and globe light fittings – will be reinstated and market stall shop fronts onto the High Street will be redesigned to create consistency while allowing each shop front to have a differing colour and its own branding.

Additional lighting and security measures will also be incorporated to allow the building to remain visible and secure in the evenings.

Stalls from the front of the market will be temporarily relocated to a different location within the market hall while the work takes place, but traders and ward councillors for the town have stressed all stalls will remain open as normal.

Caretaker and stallholder Steve Bridgwater said: “All at the market are excited about the future for the town and market. We can see the light at end of the tunnel and know we will reap the benefits when this work is all done.

“We also just want all customers to know we're open as usual. Shoppers can follow our Facebook page and TikTok to see what bargains we have and great events coming soon.”

Brierley Hill councillor Adam Davies said: "The market is at the heart of Brierley Hill and people have been saying for a long time they would like to see the building improved as part of the ongoing regeneration in the town.

"This exciting phase of work will give the front of the building a complete refresh and reinstate some of the original heritage features that make the building so unique.”

Fellow Brierley Hill ward councillor Wayne Little added: “These improvements should hopefully give our town and traders a boost once complete.”

The work has been funded with a grant awarded to the market owners from the Heritage Action Zone, which has also helped to restore the war memorial.