New Smithfield Market could be substantially redeveloped to become a composite market as part of an ambitious regeneration plan by Manchester City Council.
The aim of the regeneration company New East Manchester, working with English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency, is to develop a market that caters for the foodservice sector, as well as traditional independent retailers.
New East Manchester is looking for a development partner to help it achieve this goal.
“We want to realise the potential of this important market for wholesale food suppliers within the North West,” said Eddie Smith, acting chief executive of New East Manchester. “And the lead member on the council is hoping to create a composite market that will meet the city’s future needs.”
Eddy Newman, executive member for neighbourhood services at Manchester City Council, said: “Our vision for New Smithfield Market is to create a one-stop shop for the catering industry rather than a purely traditional wholesale market.”
Tenants are reserving their judgement at this stage. “We are carrying on with our businesses as usual, as we wait and see what happens with these latest proposals,” said David Sully, secretary of the tenants’ association. “In a sense we have seen it all before, when a market redevelopment was first mooted five to six years ago, but that all fell apart. We will wait and see what plans come forward, but in the meantime, people will carry on investing in their businesses in the same old units.”
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