Stalls in Kingston’s ancient Market Place could be reconfigured as part of plans to open up the central square to pedestrians.

The design concepts, part of a wider project to revitalise the historic heart of the town, could see stalls spaced out to create more routes for pedestrians, and make the Market House more visible.

The plans follow a consultation with businesses, residents and other stakeholders that highlighted a desire for alternatives to retail, removal of street clutter and showcasing the area’s history.

Urban designers JMP also came up with ideas for a new surface in the Market Place that include dark banding in tribute to Kingston-born pioneer of the moving image, Eadweard Muybridge.

The council’s project manager Jay Judge said: “The banding is but one concept used by the designers.

“The Muybridge’s link is about framing the Market Place as a place of movement as per the early motion photography Muybridge is famous for.

“Other than that, the technique of picking out the building lines using banding on banding in paving is a way of encouraging the eye line to look up at the building.”

The project also aims to expand the evening economy with more leisure uses, a reduction in the space used by vehicles and around the market stalls, and creating more activities in the evenings after shops have closed.

Grove ward councillor Chrissie Hitchcock said: “I think they are all positive things because we don’t make enough of the market. It has been a neglected area.

“I’m not sure about the designs for the stalls, but I do think it’s a good space at the moment, but it could be even better space and this could go some way to achieving that.”

The revitalisation project is now between concept design and final design, with further public consultation due in January 2012.