Iconic Preston Market promised to be protected to preserve history

Worried Preston Market traders have been buoyed by the state government’s announcement of heritage protection as they continue their fight against redevelopment plans.

An artist rendering of the design for a new Preston market as proposed by the owners of the site.

The fight to save iconic Preston Market has scored a much-needed win, with the state government announcing heritage protection covering the historic sheds.

This follows months of uncertainty over site’s future, leaving business owners anxious and the community upset.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny on Monday announced a Heritage Overlay would be added to the Darebin Planning Scheme to guide future development of the precinct, including the iconic market.

Ms Kilkenny said overlay would assist in protecting the historical, aesthetic, technical and social significance of the market.

“We said we would protect Preston Market’s heritage while increasing housing choice, and that’s exactly what we’re doing by introducing these new planning controls,” she said.

It comes after the advice from an independent advisory committee found more work was needed to protect the heritage significance of the market.

Under the new planning controls, the market will remain while also allowing the precinct between the new Preston railway station and the High Street shops to be redeveloped with 1000 new homes.

“The Preston Market Precinct has been identified as a key strategic site and provides an opportunity to deliver greater housing choice and employment opportunities for future generations,” Ms Kilkenny said.

In a long-running saga, the Herald Sun reported in June that more than 100 business owners penned an open letter against the market’s co-owner and developer Salta Properties’ plans to shut the market for two years to allow for major redevelopment