A RUN-down shopping centre is preparing for a fresh start as it is set to re-open as ‘Weymouth’s take on Portobello market’.

Extensive work is currently taking place on the Colwell Centre building, on School Street, which is set to relaunch as the Weymouth Indoor Market.

Planners have given the goahead for redevelopment at the site, but that is on hold with the new market venture being given an opportunity to thrive.

The new centre will feature a number of units, as well as a café, bistro and bar and also stalls.

Work has been taking place in recent months to breathe life back in to the centre, with repairs needed on a leaking roof, the escalator and the lift, automatic doors and much more to get it up to scratch.

The indoor market is set to re-open on April 1 and will also boast free wi-fi, toilets, heating and free-to-use cash machines.

A cashier’s desk at the front of the centre will also double up as a tourist information point.

Tony Peers, one of the shareholders in the scheme, said that plans started being formed when the traders started to leave and the centre closed down.

He said: “Basically we knew that the centre had closed down and there was a lot of general repairs that needed doing.

“All the traders were leaving.

When the news came out about Brewers Quay changing hands, traders were moving out of there.

“They couldn’t afford the high street, we thought this place seemed ideal.”

From there, an approach to the owner of the building was made and a long-term lease was secured.

Around 70 per cent of the units in the building have already been filled.

Mr Peers said: “It’s for local traders, smaller traders, some coming out of town as well.

Weymouth warrants something like an indoor market.

The location is quite ideal.”

Businesses that have already snapped up kiosks, include a vape shop, fashion shops, a hairdressers and botox clinic, a vintage wears and fashion shop and art studios.

In December 2015, outline planning permission was given to tear down the centre and replace it with flats.

However, Mr Peers said that the current owner wants it to work as an indoor market if possible and he thinks that it has every chance at being successful.

“We want it to be like Portobello market, a Weymouth take on it.

“We want people to be able to fill their day and stay in here for hours.”

The plan is to open the new market on April 1 so traders have a chance to get set-up before Easter and the influx of tourists in to the town.