[7] Although Historic England says that the original market was bombed in 1941,[2] Elain Harwood and documents from Plymouth City Council say it survived.

[7] The project lasted between 1956 and 1959,[8]: 30  and its 1959 opening by Lord Mayor Percival Washbourn signalled the completion of the city centre's redevelopment.

[7][9] In March 2003, the market was listed at grade II by Historic England, noted for "the quality of its interior and technical ingenuity on a large scale".

[8]: 32  Walls and Pearn worked with Albin Chronowicz, a celebrated structural engineer,[12] to create the building's concrete shell.

[13] Alex de Rijke proposed that the market could be used more effectively by the introduction of a mezzanine, creating a balcony level which could be used by cafes and bars.