Decision on indoor market plans pushed back

A decision on controversial plans to demolish Birmingham's Bull Ring Indoor Market building has been pushed back.

Traders at the site in Edgbaston Street were warned last year it could be redeveloped for a residential or student housing scheme.

During a meeting on Thursday, city councillors raised concerns over the delivery of temporary and permanent replacement markets on the site of the city's wholesale market.

The planning committee postponed taking a decision while they wait for reassurances over timescales.

The planning application for the indoor market site, submitted by developer Hammerson, proposes building up to 745 apartments or 1,544 student bedrooms or any combination of these uses - along with items like a commercial space and cycle parking.

During the meeting, councillor Gareth Moore expressed worry over the loss of the market building, despite the planned construction of a temporary alternative.

"Whilst there are plans in place to replace [the market], they are not concrete," he said.

"I don't think we can even consider demolition until there's a guarantee that asset will be replaced."

Fellow councillor Jane Jones added the committee should not push ahead until traders had somewhere to move in to.

A report published before the meeting said it was "critical" to understand the authority's wider plans for city-centre markets.

It 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.

Area planning manager Nick Jackson acknowledged during the meeting that the delivery of the temporary and replacement markets was "contingent on securing funding".

He later said timescales allowed by leases and discussions with the Smithfield developer indicated it was all "possible and likely".

Councillor David Barker, chair of the planning committee, acknowledged: "It looks to be a good project in many ways."

But amid the concerns raised during the meeting, the committee opted to make a decision on the scheme at a later date.

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

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