A trader at Coventry Market has warned his business faces an uncertain future as sales have plummeted during the city's lengthy redevelopment programme.

Amjad Hussain runs a sports supplements stall at the market on Queen Victoria Road. He said sales have dropped by more than 70% since work on the wider City Centre South project began.

Although Coventry City Council has announced £1.25m of external improvements to the market building, and has reduced rent for affected traders to reflect the disruption, Hussain said the impact of the surrounding redevelopment has been severe.

"It's going to be good for us when it's completed, but we have to survive until then," Hussain said. The City Centre South development is due to be completed by 2034.

Loss of car park access

Hussain blamed the loss of nearby public car park access as a key factor in the decline. "My customers have stopped coming into the market because they can't park nearby," he said. "I used to buy stock every two weeks, but now I've stopped buying because I can't sell it."

The City Centre South development is expected to bring more than 1,500 new homes to Coventry, along with 18,000 sq m of public space, restaurants, shops and other leisure facilities. Coventry Market sits next to the site.

Mixed outlook from trader committee

Chris Charley, from Coventry Indoor Market Committee, said traders were mostly positive about the plans, but acknowledged some would face direct impacts. "There's still a few things that we need to work out with the council that are going to be impacted on specific traders," he said.

"We haven't had an investment like this for decades. So it's good, it's positive news."

Council commitment

Councillor Lynette Kelly said Coventry Market was a "cornerstone" of the city centre and traders were "a huge part of its character".

"Coventry Market has served generations of residents, and the £1.25m investment is about helping it thrive well into the future," Kelly added.

The council said it would continue promoting the market and working with traders throughout the redevelopment.