Oxford City Council has agreed on the final £1.3m investment to complete a long-term refurbishment of the Covered Market roof that will secure the structure for around another 60 to 80 years.
The refurbishment to the roof of the Grade II-listed Covered Market, in the city centre conservation area, started in 2010 and has so far seen £500,000 spent by the City Council on the first three phases of the seven-phase project.
The City Council’s City Executive Board agreed to the £1.3m funding for the final four phases of the project, which will take place over the next four years.
The roof has a timber frame and is constructed from traditional Welsh Slate, and cast iron trusses and tie beams. The work will include refurbishing and replacing the slating and timberwork, and external decorations.
The total £1.8m investment in securing the long-term future of the roof is part of a £3.1m Oxford City Council project to refurbish the historic Oxford Covered Market. The other £1.3m will be spent on internal refurbishment, decorations and flooring.
Councillor Mary Clarkson, Executive Board Member for Culture and City Centre, said: “Oxford City Council is the custodian of the almost 250-year-old Oxford Covered Market. We take that responsibility seriously and we are investing £3.1m to refurbish the internal space and ensure the roof will last for generations.
