Llanelli faces twin loss as council moves to demolish market and multi-storey car park

Llanelli’s covered market and its only multi-storey car park — housed in the same building — look set to be permanently dismantled, as Carmarthenshire County Council pushes forward with plans to relocate the market and demolish the decades-old structure beneath which it operates.

The complex has long served as a landmark in the town centre, with traders occupying the ground floor and over 500 parking spaces stacked above. But now, officials say the building is approaching the end of its structural life, prompting an urgent search for a new home for the market.

At an initial engagement meeting held on Tuesday 22 July, traders were presented with four relocation options — the most likely being a move to the former Woolworths building at 8–12 Vaughan Street, using money from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. That option hinges on securing £3,664m² of redeveloped commercial space by Spring 2028 — and requires a pre-planning application within weeks.

Llanelli Market

“Tight timescales” — but no closure

Council officials say the market will not close, and that engineers continue to monitor the building’s safety through monthly inspections and repairs. However, the future of Llanelli Market as a physical destination is now entwined with the timetable of external funding.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:

“We’re faced with tight timescales to secure the money and ensure this option remains on the table. This is the beginning of a journey with our traders — their input is integral to how we design a new home for Llanelli Market.”

Submitting a pre-planning application now keeps the Woolworths option alive — even if it’s later withdrawn — but any delay risks forfeiting the funding altogether.

Car park closure will displace hundreds of long-stay bays

The 56-year-old multi-storey, built in 1969, contains 527 spaces, mostly long-stay. Average daily usage hovers at 224 tickets — but actual occupancy rates are lower. Once demolished, the council says displaced vehicles can be absorbed across other town centre car parks, with plans to adjust short-stay allocations where needed.

Critics warn that losing the multi-storey removes a major draw for shoppers and visitors, at a time when Llanelli’s retail core has already been hollowed out by out-of-town developments like Parc Trostre and Parc Pemberton.

Two-storey market concerns

If relocated to Vaughan Street, the market could span two floors, raising questions about accessibility and shopper appeal. The council insists successful examples exist elsewhere — and says architects will work with traders to shape the design.

Still, some stallholders and residents say the priority should be keeping the market central, accessible and visible. Others fear that the combined impact of losing the market building and the car park above will push the town centre further into decline.

Carmarthenshire Council says no final decisions have been made — and that all options remain on the table. But with structural concerns mounting and deadlines looming, Llanelli’s market traders may soon be forced to pack up and move, whether they’re ready or not.

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