Award for Cornhill Market

The transformation of Lincoln’s Cornhill Market has won a regional property award.

The City of Lincoln Council project won the Regeneration and Restoration Project of the Year at the annual East Midlands Property Dinner Awards 2024.

The £8.75 million regeneration of the Grade II listed Cornhill Market was delivered with funding and support from Town Deal and Historic England and completed with partners, including Lindum Group and John Roberts Architects, with the aim of developing the old historic market into a vibrant and sustainable destination for retail, dining, and community events.

Key to the project’s success was preserving the market’s original 1930s façade, signs, and clock while incorporating modern enhancements. The modernised space now features an indoor market with bespoke timber stalls, a food court, a new mezzanine, and upgraded public amenities.

The project also encompassed environmental sustainability, with a thermally efficient double-glazed roof reducing the need for excessive heating. All waste generated during construction was recycled and efforts to reduce the project’s carbon footprint, including car-sharing initiatives and walking to work, saved over 23 metric tons of CO2.

The City Square area, next to the market was repaved to accommodate outdoor stalls, al fresco dining, and community events designed to enhance social and commercial activity in the city.

Cllr Joshua Wells, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Winning this award is an incredible achievement for our council and is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff, who have ensured that the Cornhill Market regeneration is of the highest quality.” 

 Lindum Group Co-Chairman, Edward Chambers, said the award recognised the determination of the project team to deliver a modern retail centre while preserving many elements of the original 1930s building. 

 “The Cornhill Market scheme is a brilliant example of using what is already there, rather than starting something new from scratch. It just goes to show we can work in a sustainable way to bring these older buildings up to a better standard of environmental performance, while maintaining the important heritage of the city.”