Kingston's ancient marketplace is to be managed by a single operator for a minimum of 10 years.

Described as "the very heart of Kingston" by Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, the new strategy was approved unanimously by the council's corporate committee last Tuesday 19 March.

The marketplace has previously been operated by external organisations through a lease renewed each year.

However the next lease will now last a minimum of 10 years, allowing the market's next operator to create a long-term strategy along with the council according to its leader, Cllr Andreas Kirsch.

Addressing the committee, Cllr Kirsch said the new longer contract will give operators "more security to operate a innovative, modern market which hopefully attracts even more people and serves our residents even better".

The first operator to benefit from the change will be decided through a bidding process, where business plans will be presented to and voted on by councillors.

The council wants bids to include the Grade II listed Market House – described as the market's "crown jewel" by Cllr Kirsch – as "a centrepiece of the overall market strategy".

Some members of the committee were more critical of the plans, with Cllr Mike Massimi emphasising the need for a breakout clause in the lease in case operators failed to deliver on plans.

Concerns were raised over the market's stalls, described as 'at the end of their life' by council officer Matthew Essex (Photo: Oliver Monk)

Leader of Kingston's Conservative Group, Cllr Rowena Bass was supportive of the plans, but pressed on who will renovate the market's current wooden stalls which the councillor himself described as "dated".

While responsibility for the market's refurbishment will be unclear until the operator bid process takes place, Cllr Kirsch has confirmed that £1.2m has been earmarked for works on Market House itself.

"We want to see what the ideas of the operator are before we do the renovation," said the councillor.