Market move
Fresh Produce Journal (FPJ) has revealed that Birmingham market plans back on table with news that the stalled plans to relocate Birmingham's wholesale market are back on the agenda and could be considered by the council cabinet as early as December 2010.
The £65 million project, Wholesale Hub, to relocate the markets looked stalled with Prupim, the city council's preferred bidder to develop the new site at The Hub in Witton, admitting no planning permission had yet been submitted for the next generation markets, http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2010/08/26/traders-at-birmingham-wholesale-markets-in-limbo-over-delay-to-planned-move-65233-27144014/.
The council has three options, a multi-million pound renovation of the site, the move or leaving the market to run down. With the market employing 3,000 people and many more reliant on it there was a general meeting held a week ago while Steve Grogan, head of markets at the council, will resubmit plans for the market to the cabinet in December.
The new site in Witton will cost more for traders but they will have new and clean premises and pay a more realistic market value.
Grogan will also present a three, five and ten year investment plan to refurbish the current site if the cabinet agree on this option, although the cost alone to fix the roof is estimated at £8 million.
The relocation of the markets would provide a large opportunity for the City Council's Big City Plan which would see the site be developed with opportunities for offices, a park and cultural and retail development.
The £65 million project, Wholesale Hub, to relocate the markets looked stalled with Prupim, the city council's preferred bidder to develop the new site at The Hub in Witton, admitting no planning permission had yet been submitted for the next generation markets, http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2010/08/26/traders-at-birmingham-wholesale-markets-in-limbo-over-delay-to-planned-move-65233-27144014/.
The council has three options, a multi-million pound renovation of the site, the move or leaving the market to run down. With the market employing 3,000 people and many more reliant on it there was a general meeting held a week ago while Steve Grogan, head of markets at the council, will resubmit plans for the market to the cabinet in December.
The new site in Witton will cost more for traders but they will have new and clean premises and pay a more realistic market value.
Grogan will also present a three, five and ten year investment plan to refurbish the current site if the cabinet agree on this option, although the cost alone to fix the roof is estimated at £8 million.
The relocation of the markets would provide a large opportunity for the City Council's Big City Plan which would see the site be developed with opportunities for offices, a park and cultural and retail development.
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