Bacup in Lancashire, England, is gearing up for a transformation that could shape the future of its town centre. Once renowned for its textile mills, stone quarries and fine Victorian architecture, Bacup has long counted on its market as the beating heart of trade and community life. Yet, like many towns across the North, it has endured decades of decline as industries shut up shop and larger retail centres lured people elsewhere.
Now, an £8.3m redevelopment, backed by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, promises to hand the market and Union Street a fresh lease of life at the centre of the community.
Market as a Meeting Place
Rossendale Borough Council has re-worked its original plans to keep the scheme both affordable and worthwhile. The new designs by CODA Architecture concentrate on upgrading the existing market rather than putting up a brand-new hall. A striking canopy and spruced-up stalls will put the market centre-stage, while a landscaped square with stepped seating on the former Barclays Bank plot will provide space for performances and get-togethers.
Union Street will also benefit from improvements to safety and accessibility, helping to knit the market together with nearby shops, historic buildings and public spaces. The aim is to make Bacup’s centre not merely a place to shop but somewhere people genuinely want to linger.
Levelling Up in Action
The Levelling Up Fund is a nationwide initiative designed to tackle long-standing inequalities between UK regions, chiefly by investing in local infrastructure and town centres.
For Bacup, landing this money is a lifeline, tying the town’s future to a broader Government push to spread prosperity to communities that have too often been left behind. Public input remains key, with a drop-in consultation scheduled for 22 September at the AB&D Centre and an online survey running alongside it.
The council expects to lodge a planning application in October, kick off procurement in November and appoint a contractor in early 2026. Building work should start in the spring of that year, with completion due before the Levelling Up Fund deadline in 2027. If all goes to plan, Bacup’s market will not only enjoy a new lease of life but will also stand as proof of what targeted investment can deliver in the North of England.
