Designs unveiled for new stalls at Preston Market

Following on from a planning session held earlier this year to discuss new stall designs at Preston Market, a prototype for traders has been unveiled.

The brief called for a stall for the site’s Outdoor Market that is easy to set up and adaptable enough to meet the requirements of all traders and their goods.

Taking inspiration from student designs and feedback from traders, Prof. Charles Quick of the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) In Certain Places programme and John Bridge of Preston architects FWP created the final look.

Local firm Smithy Joinery built the prototype from ply and soft wood with nylon wheels.

UCLan’s Prof. Charles Quick said: “Real life design challenges can present fantastic opportunities. The excitement being you just never know what may become of them.

“The design of a new outdoor market stall for traders is one of those challenges that has come to fruition.”

He added: “We are excited to see the outcome of the trial period and, if successful, seeing this stalls used throughout the Outdoor Market.”

Pete Burns, a trader at Preston’s Outdoor Market, commented: “I enjoyed being part of the design charrette back in January and able to contribute to the design with my 25 years’ experience and knowledge trading on Preston Market.

“I am looking forward to trialling the new stall and hopefully using it regularly.”

Preston City Council’s Leader, Cllr Peter Rankin, said the collaborative efforts between UCLan and the market traders has been “brilliant”.

He continued: “Hopefully the trialling of the prototype will be successful and I look forward to hearing the feedback from all involved.”

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