Coalville's £2.8million Marlborough Square redevelopment is to re-open next month - with two days of events planned including the new outdoor market.

Work to create new public space for markets and events in Coalville is reaching completion, as the final touches are made to the square.

After a number of hold-ups - work on the development officially began last September.

North West Leicestershire District Council leader, Cllr Richard Blunt, admits the project has seen a 'loss of support' due to the amount of time taken to complete it - after it was first planned in 2018.

But now he says he wants the positives of the development to outweigh the negatives.

Hosting a weekly outdoor market to complement the indoor market at Newmarket, as well as regular public events, Marlborough Square will officially 'launch' to the public on Friday 23 and Saturday, August 24.

There will be the first weekly Friday market - Friday, August 23, 8am–4pm 

Featuring fruit and veg, fish and meat, flowers and artisan goods stalls, the first market will be a celebration, with family entertainment running alongside the regular stalls, including live music, a caricaturist, face painting and pirate-themed activities.

North West Leicestershire District Council leader, Cllr Richard Blunt, with Head Of Property And Economic Regeneration, Paul Wheatley.

Following the launch, the weekly outdoor market will take place each Friday from 8am–4pm, running alongside the indoor market at Newmarket, which is also open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

A Family fun day follows on Saturday, August 24, 10am – 4pm

The free family fun day will bring a climbing wall and caving experience to Marlborough Square, as well as face painting, balloon modelling, street entertainment and live music.

Regular themed events will be held on the square, and the square will be used as part of the town's Christmas in Coalville celebrations:

A Marlborough Square event programme for 2024 has also been announced

• September – Superhero crafts (15, 15, 21 and 22 September), Vintage Goth fair (28 September) 

• October – Pop up pumpkin patch (30 October), Howl-o-ween (dog themed spooky event) (31 October)

• November – Christmas in Coalville (23 November)

• December – Christmas market (6 December), Christmas event (14 December)

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of NWLDC, said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime project that will be here in a 100 years' time. 

"We are absolutely delighted that we will soon be able to bring down the fences and open our new markets and events space at Marlborough Square to the public, and we're really looking forward to getting the weekly market going as well as regular fun events.

"The Marlborough Square redesign project has been a long time in the making, and we've suffered a huge number of setbacks. I know we've lost support for the project along the way, as people have become frustrated with the amount of time taken, but I'm hoping our future plans for the space will be seen positively.

"It's been a complex space to reimagine, with lots of complications due to the nature of the space, but I firmly believe this is one part of the puzzle in terms of breathing new life into this part of Coalville.

An artist's impression of how the development will look when it has been opened. Image: North West Leicestershire District Council

"Our job as a district council is to have long-term vision when working on regeneration. Our hope is that people will see this investment, witness how much life is in Coalville and start to invest – whether that's local people investing their time here and supporting local businesses, or private enterprises looking at a town on the up and choosing to invest their money here.

"I really hope local people get behind it and help us to make it a success."