CONCERNS have been raised after it emerged Bradford's Darley Street Market would not open for several more months.

Earlier this week, Bradford Council said the city's new market hall would be "ready to open in the spring".

The initial plan was for the venue to open in autumn last year.

A number of readers have contacted the Telegraph & Argus to raise concerns over delays to the highly-anticipated project.

The T&A asked Bradford Council to explain why Darley Street Market would not open until spring next year.

The T&A also asked the Council if it could be more specific about which month in spring it expected the market to launch.

A Bradford Council spokesperson responded: "As we have said previously, traders have asked that we do not disrupt their Christmas trading, and have indicated a preference to begin the task of mobilising and restocking their stalls in Darley Street Market from January next year.

"We are working hard with contractors and traders on their stall fit-out designs and plans, and have already said that the opening date is likely to be in the spring of next year. 

"Once we're ready to make a formal announcement we will let people know."

The original budget for the market was £23.5 million - but this then increased to £27m, with the Council blaming high inflation rates.

Earlier this year, the authority pumped another £1.4m into the scheme after it emerged the original plan of finding a third-party operator to run the food hall had fallen through.

The Council's markets team will run the hall - a change that required extra money.

And last month it was revealed the project needed an extra £2.4m.

Council bosses heard that "several factors" have led to the overspend of the flagship development and delays to its completion - including design changes and a more complicated than expected demolition process.

Plans for Darley Street Market date back years.

The project was given the go-ahead in 2019 and work on-site began in 2021 with the demolition of several properties.

Built on the former Marks & Spencer site on Darley Street, the venue will eventually replace the city's two existing markets, at Oastler and Kirkgate.

The market will feature three storeys for stalls and food outlets, as well as a public events space.