Mexborough set for town centre makeover

Doncaster council’s plans to refurbish York Square retail units, repurpose Market Hall, and demolish the multi-storey car park with £1.8m of Levelling Up funds will come before cabinet for approval next week.

A report to councillors highlights that the area is hampered by complex long-term property and contractual arrangements involving the council, landlord Zurich, tenant Harmby Properties, and Market Asset Management, the current operator of the market.

These arrangements have limited the council’s ability to respond to issues affecting the multi-storey car park, York Square retail units, and the Market Hall.

The report notes that York Square and the Market Hall have been blighted by vacant retail units, an ageing public space, and poor access, contributing to declining footfall.

The Market Hall, in particular, is expensive to maintain and operate, with its commercial viability challenged by falling trader occupancy and reduced visitor numbers.

To address these issues, the council has an approved £1.78m allocation from Levelling Up Fund Round 3.

Funding will cover three linked schemes aimed at improving the public realm, increasing commercial viability, and reducing the council’s long-term maintenance liabilities.

Part of the funding will also support legal, project management, and design costs.

Under the recommended plan, the council intends to:

• Lease and refurbish nine vacant retail units around York Square from Harmby Properties and offer them to existing market traders on a sub-lease. This would end MAM’s involvement with the market.

• Encourage private sector interest in the Market Hall to repurpose it for commercial or community use, with an incentive package available to support capital refurbishment. The goal is to generate rental income, attract new visitors, and increase footfall, potentially using a model similar to Doncaster Wool Market.

• Demolish the multi-storey car park and replace it with a surface-level car park, improving exposed walls and the surrounding public realm, and removing the anti-social behaviour that currently takes place within the MSCP.

The council will consider two rather blunt options that they have called ‘Option A – do something’ and ‘Option B – do nothing’:

• Option A – Do something: Proceed with the refurbishment of York Square retail units, repurposing the Market Hall, and replacing the multi-storey car park.

• Option B – Do nothing: Leave the existing arrangements in place, risking ongoing decline of the 800-year-old market, continued maintenance liabilities, and reduced footfall affecting the market’s viability.

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “Since August 2025, a number of regenerative projects have begun in Mexborough town centre, including improving the access to the sports club, improving the overall landscape and improving the shop fronts, this has been made possible through Government funding for Doncaster North.

“This next stage of regeneration which will be discussed by cabinet, will concentrate on improving the Mexborough Markets area, an area that has incredible potential.

“As part of the planned works, the multi-storey car park – which is costly to maintain and often an area of anti-social behaviour – will be demolished and replaced with a surface level car park.

“This will enhance the town centre and, due to the ongoing works taking place around the bus station, will actually increase the amount of car parking available.

“We will continue to work alongside the local community, including residents and businesses, to ensure that the full programme of works fit the needs and wants of the community.”