Work on an £8.4 million project to transform March town centre will begin in the New Year. 

Improvements to March Market Place, including to the appearance, car park and introducing new facilities, will start in January 2023 and due to last 12 weeks. 

The work is part of the March Future High Streets Fund programme (MFHSF), delivered by Fenland District Council, which includes regenerating Broad Street and the riverside. 

Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland Council’s portfolio holder for social mobility and heritage and lead of the MFHSF steering group, is pleased with the progress made. 

“I’m delighted that the first major project going ahead as part of the town’s future regeneration is ready to start,” he said. 

“March Market Place is already a well-loved community facility but these enhancement works will cement its position as the focal hub of the town centre.” 

The scheme includes new paving, refurbishment of lampposts and the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure for future charging points. 

Visitors can attend the final market day on the Market Place on Saturday, January 7, before it relocates to City Road car park every Wednesday and Saturday for the duration of the works. 

The Market Place will be closed to public vehicles from Sunday, January 8 and work is due to start on Monday, January 9. 

Cambs Times: A depiction of what the riverside area in March town centre could look like once the high street project is completed.A depiction of what the riverside area in March town centre could look like once the high street project is completed. (Image: Fenland District Council)

Highways work in Broad Street, funded by Cambridgeshire County Council’s March Area Transport Strategy (MATS), is planned to start early next year after a £4.2m investment from MATS and £3.6m from the Future High Streets Fund programme. 

The project also aims to bring vacant retail units back into use, improve the appearance of shops and attract more shoppers into the town.

Fenland Council says this scheme aims to improve traffic flow through the town centre, as well as increasing safety, reduce air pollution and “offer a more social pedestrian-friendly environment”. 

Last year, Dr Nik Johnson, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, was backed to maintain £1.1m awarded to Fenland Council for the March High Street Project.