Accrington Square Market
Framework: SCAPE National Construction Framework
Client: Hyndburn Borough Council
Location: Accrington
Budget: £7.4m
Completion: August 2025
Sector: Industrial/Commercial
“The Accrington Town Square projects were always going to be a complex undertaking, not least because of the challenges that come with working on listed buildings in a live environment. From the outset, Morgan Sindall’s team approached the work with a positive spirit - engaging openly with the Council and other stakeholders to navigate the constraints and sensitivities of the site.”
Councillor Pritchard
Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Town Centres
Marking the completion of the first phase of Accrington Town Square's wider regeneration, the project transformed three prominent town centre buildings, including the Grade II-listed Market Hall, Burton's Chambers and Market Chambers.
Delivered as part of Hyndburn Borough Council’s regeneration plans, Morgan Sindall Construction delivered a comprehensive package of demolition and restoration works through the SCAPE National Construction Framework.
Funding for this project was secured through a successful bid for £20m to the Levelling Up Fund (LUF), with additional matching contributions of £1.5m from Hyndburn Borough Council and £1.5m from Lancashire County Council.
The works included stonework repairs and cleaning to restore the building façades, as well as roof repairs to ensure both buildings were fully watertight. The project also involved the safe removal of asbestos and a full strip-out of internal spaces, preparing them for second-phase fit-out work.
Significant enhancements were made to Burton Chambers, upgrading the envelope with the installation of new windows, doors and curtain walling. Additional improvements encompassed upgraded power connections and essential basement repairs, contributing to the overall modernisation and safety of the building for the future internal fit-out works.
Creating opportunities for local people and businesses
Throughout delivery, Morgan Sindall maximised the usage of local and specialised supply chain partners and labour to deliver the works, along with delivering on its own responsible business commitments and generating positive social value impact in the area.
Designed to ensure the benefits of regeneration were felt beyond the site boundary, the project created opportunities for local people, businesses and job seekers throughout Accrington.
In partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council, Morgan Sindall hosted a "Getting Connected" event at Accrington Town Hall, bringing together local subcontractors, suppliers, social enterprises and job seekers. Attended by c.200 local stakeholders, the event strengthened local supply chains, promoted upcoming opportunities and helped maximise the economic benefits of the wider regeneration programme within the community.
To support sustainable employment, the project team worked closely with Job Centre Plus, delivering workshops for work coaches to improve understanding of construction careers, entry requirements and pathways into the industry. This helped ensure job seekers received more informed guidance and could be matched to suitable opportunities.
In partnership with the Job Centre and social enterprise We Are Footprint, the project team also helped local resident Martyn Robson secure employment on the project. Having previously experienced barriers to employment, Martyn joined the team as a Gateman and Traffic Marshall, providing a steady route back into work while developing new skills and confidence. The opportunity is now supporting him to work towards longer-term employment and career progression.
“I live five minutes from the site so this job is perfect for me. I’ve worked in various roles in construction but never as a gateman before. I am enjoying it as I’m from the local area and know a lot of people in the town, so I’ve been useful in engaging with the local community.”
Martyn Robson
We Are Footprint
“Regeneration schemes such as Accrington Town Square are breathing new life into historic towns and neighbourhoods across the UK. We’re proud to have delivered significant and much needed restoration works on the first phase of project which are all aimed at preserving the character of the buildings while making them safe, modern and fit for the future. We look forward to seeing how the project progresses from here.”
Steven Gregory
North West Area Director, Morgan Sindall Construction
Social value outcomes
This project has been submitted by Morgan Sindall Construction as part of the collaborative Social Value in Construction Benchmarking Report. This report captures the latest insights into the regional and national trends in social value delivery; learn more here.
£2.3m
social value
22
school engagement hours
119
apprenticeship/T-Level weeks
328
volunteering hours
£30k
spent with social enterprises
In collaboration with:
Meet the lead:
Ian Towlson
Senior Framework Manager | Construction
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