Proposal for historic market demolition returns to council
Hammerson’s plans to redevelop the Bull Ring’s Indoor Market and Edgbaston Street Car Park are set to be revisited by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.
Members wanted more information about market relocation plans and delivery timelines from planning officers and Hammerson.
Since the deferral, Avison Young on behalf of Hammerson, submitted a note in support of its plans for Edgbaston Street Gardens.
As Hammerson owns the freehold to the site, the market space is leased to Birmingham City Council on a lease that will expire in September 2025. The council controls the operation of the Indoor Market and sub-leases the market space to individual traders.
Hammerson has offered to work with the council to allow it to execute its plan to consolidate the markets, as well as offering to manage the Indoor Market until 2026 or 2027.
Plans are recommended for approval once again, subject to a Section 106 agreement will see Hammerson make a £4.2m contribution for off-site affordable housing if the scheme is built out to 745 apartments.
Both the market and car park would be demolished to make way for the scheme, which would link with the broader Smithfield Masterplan and improve connectivity between Bullring, Grand Central, St. Martin’s Church, and Upper Dean Street.
The Bull Ring’s indoor fish market dates back to the 1800s, with a range of fish, fruit and vegetables on offer.
Hammerson says it has aligned the application with the Birmingham Smithfield Masterplan, which looked to relocate and consolidate the markets in the northeastern section of the site. It cites Lendlease’s £1.9bn Smithfield regeneration project, which has already secured approval for a new building to replace the demolished Bull Ring Indoor and Rag Markets.
Plans include a new home for the city’s historic Bull Ring markets, and new leisure and cultural spaces, including a festival square and landscaped park.
