Enabling work starts on 1 February 2024 to improve the bus station and taxi rank in Matlock's Bakewell Road.
The District Council is pressing ahead with improvements to the former market hall site in Matlock's Bakewell Road - despite the authority's long-term vision being put on hold due to the volatile construction market.
For a number of years the council has been driving forward a key town centre regeneration project to enhance the street scene along Bakewell Road, improve public transport waiting areas and convert the former market hall into a two-screen cinema and new food and beverage/retail unit.
However, at a full meeting of the District Council in December it was confirmed that two invitations to procure a main contractor and value engineering of the scheme design had unfortunately not brought acceptable or affordable tenders, illustrating the significant challenge of delivering the proposed scheme in the current inflation-impacted construction market.
Preparatory work will continue through February and will include the removal of the existing landscaping and street furniture around the building and uplifting of York stone paving for cleaning, together with a deep clean of the building.
This will prepare the ground for further upgrades including improving the bus layby and re-surfacing footways around the site, work that will be delivered by Derbyshire County Council.
Further action by the District Council will comprise demolition of a redundant kiosk, re-decoration of the building, installation of large windows to create a comfortable waiting area for bus and taxi passengers and new seating.
Real time information boards will be incorporated too, together with new street furniture, landscaping, tree planting, lighting and signage.
District Council Leader Councillor Steve Flitter said: "We will be making sure local people and visitors receive further updates as this work progress. Our longer term ambition is still to have a cinema on this site, but in the meantime we are determined to create a more open and safe environment for the many people who use public transport and taxis at this important town centre location."
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Charlotte Cupit, said: “We’re pleased to be working with the District Council to make improvements to this part of Matlock. We were planning other improvements to the surfacing and a bus shelter in this area, and so we are working together to try to minimise disruption to users of the bus station and those visiting this part of the town.
“We are also putting in real time bus information, where a digital screen will let bus passengers know when they can expect their bus, which is based on where the bus is. We know these are popular with passengers so we hope this will be of real value to bus users in the town.”
The project is being funded by Derbyshire Dales District Council, Derbyshire County Council and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
