Details have emerged of a 1m sq ft requirement for Birmingham’s new wholesale food market.
A tender document for potential developers reveals that the council wants to double the size of the existing 500,000 sq ft market in Digbeth, which is earmarked for redevelopment.
The council is looking for 35 acres within 5 miles of the Digbeth site, which is close to the Bullring shopping centre. It hopes that the new £100m market will become “a centre of food excellence and a food tourism destination”.
As well as extra space for traders, there will be offices and restaurants, and space for processing and distribution.
The document says: “The development partner will bring the development forward on a long leasehold basis and could play a significant future role in the management of the scheme.”
Possible locations include PRUPIM’s 90-acre The Hub and St Modwen’s 56-acre Heartlands Park on the M6. The council has talked to both.
The closing date for the receipt of tenders is 1 August.
US developer Hines is thought to be the favourite to redevelop the Digbeth site, but no formal tender has been held.
