Approval urged for indoor market demolition plans

Plans to demolish Birmingham's Bull Ring Indoor Market building to make way for housing have been recommended for approval for a second time.

A decision had been pushed back amid concerns over the future of market traders who were warned last year that the site in Edgbaston Street could be redeveloped.

Hundreds of apartments or student bedrooms are proposed to go in its place along with a commercial space and car and cycle parking.

Council officers believe the proposals are in line with the city's development plan and they will be considered by councillors on 13 February.

In January a number of councillors were worried about what could happen to the traders despite plans to build a temporary market for them.

A council officer's report, published ahead of that meeting, explained it was the intention for the indoor market traders to be "decanted" to a temporary home on the former wholesale market site.

They said the proposed temporary market should be fully operational by the end of 2026, which should give traders enough time to relocate, before moving again to a permanent home at the previously approved Smithfield site.

The Smithfield redevelopment is a huge project set to transform the former Birmingham wholesale market site and includes proposals for a new market.

An update issued ahead of the latest planning meeting said there had been "notable progress" on the Smithfield plans and this provided a "greater level of certainty over future market provision".

It went on to say that the council will be submitting an application for funding to secure the delivery of both the temporary market and replacement permanent market.

"Until such funding is secured, there remains a risk to the delivery plans," the update acknowledged.

But using a condition that prevents the demolition of the indoor market until a new market is ready - in order to remove this risk - was considered "entirely unreasonable".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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