Councillors in Birmingham are recommending that the deputy council leader gives the wholesale market tenants’ association more time to present the financial arrangements of their proposal for market redevelopment, originally scheduled to be heard on 19 November.
Councillor Carl Rice, chair of the governance, resources and member development overview and scrutiny committee, told FPJ: “Birmingham grew up around its markets. It is a city built on trade and industry and the market is the first example of that. We should not forsake our history for the sake of a few months.”
Rice now hopes deputy leader Ian Ward will give the tenants’ association until early next year to work with council officials and report back to him with financial details of its proposal for a smaller composite wholesale market on the existing site together with a food hub.
Mark Tate of the tenants’ association said: “This is a very positive response from councillor Rice’s committee. Previously we have been speaking to the lower echelons at the council and being knocked back but now we are dealing with the top table at the council.”
The tenants are limited in what they can make public about their proposals, but they have a private developer of international renown on board and are looking at reducing the market’s 22-acre site to a working composite market of 13-14 acres, with the remaining part of the site being redeveloped as a food hub.
Rice and his committee said in their report: “Members believe the concept of a new wholesale market on the present site is an attractive proposition. Commitment from traders to contribute financially to any proposed scheme or joint-venture model will be a fundamental requirement in helping to manage future risk to the council.”
