Harborough District Council is asking local people to help shape the future of Market Harborough town centre.

The authority is launching a public consultation on plans to make better use of its Adam and Eve Street headquarters and the Market Hall.

Independent consultants have recommended the council uses its assets more commercially to get better value for the district’s taxpayers, close the Council’s funding gap and provide fit-for-purpose office space for the future.  The current headquarters in Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough, are too big and in need of significant repair.

Proposals for consultation include:

• Consolidating the council offices on just two floors of the Adam and Eve Street building; this would free up space that is currently wasted and could be rented out to partners and shops;
• Locating the library and museum on the first floor of the building; 
• Funding the redevelopment by leasing the Market Hall in Northampton Road on commercial terms to an influential retail brand that would help bring more business to the town;  
• Relocating the market to a new town centre site, perhaps in a redeveloped Fox Yard or other location.

This package could:

• Bring more people into Harborough town centre in support of local shops and businesses;
• Keep the council offices and civic space in the heart of the town, bring them up to standard and generate an income by renting out surplus space;
• Close the Council’s funding gap, bring the budget into balance, and make the Council more adaptable to change and fit for the future.

Councillors have asked for a detailed business case to make sure the sustainable finances of the local authority and future prosperity of Market Harborough town centre will be secured through the proposals.  As part of the business case, a programme of community engagement has started to capture the views and thoughts of local people. 

Cllr Mike Rook, leader of the district council said:

“This is an exciting opportunity for the whole district to help shape the future of Harborough town centre. We’ve said that doing nothing is not an option. We need to make better use of our assets to keep council tax low and ensure all our residents get the best value for money. I encourage everyone to share their views with us.”

As part of the consultation:

• The Council has written to a number of groups in the town, including the market traders, to invite them for detailed talks on the proposals. 
• People can view a display board in the council’s reception area at its offices in Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough.
• Printed questionnaires are available from the council reception desk. 
• Comments can also made online at www.harborough.gov.uk/transformation or emailed to transformation@harborough.gov.uk
• The council will be contacting the Citizen’s Panel, made up of hundreds of local people, to gather feedback too.

Drop-in events will also be held across the district so people can share ideas with us. Dates for these will be made available on our website and to the local media.