Multi-Million-Pound Plans Announced for Market Harborough Community Hub

Multi-million-pound plans have been announced to create a new community hub in Market Harborough town centre.

Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity has submitted a planning application to Harborough District Council to transform its historic premises at 53–56 High Street, formerly occupied by Joules and County Jewellers.

Computer-generated image of how the building will look if plans are approved

If approved, the building will become The Town House, offering an affordable café, meeting rooms of different sizes and a large hall for community activities, celebrations and events.

Office space will also be available for local charities and voluntary organisations to work together and share resources.

The building dates from the 1840s and is Grade II listed. The first phase of the project would focus on restoring its distinctive façade.

The first phase of the project would focus on restoring the building’s distinctive façade.

The charity has been seeking to create a community space in the town for some time and previously attempted, unsuccessfully, to buy the former Roman Way Community Centre.

Sarah Hill, chair of Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity, spoke to HFM’s Nick Shaw about the ambitious project: