Sadness over housing plans for popular market

Trainee chef Amy Richardson said she bought fish and other fresh produce from the market and would be sad to see it close

Traders and shoppers have expressed sadness over proposals to demolish a popular market space and replace it with housing.

The owner of Birmingham's Bull Ring Indoor Market has told traders based there it could close before their leases expired.

Businesses, some of whom have been open for decades, received a letter informing them of plans to build apartments, student accommodation or a mixture of both.

The firm behind the scheme stressed it was just an application at this stage.

The landmark building is owned by property giant Hammerson and includes one of the largest fish markets in the UK.

Birmingham Indoor Market could be knocked down for housing if the owners' plans go ahead

Located on the ground floor of the Edgbaston Street Car Park, it is run by Birmingham City Council and the local authority provides traders with their leases.

Some sellers hold licences permitting them to stay until 2027 but the BBC understands a 20+ year clause can now be exercised by owner Hammerson.

The council's control would cease if the housing plans were approved, with traders compensated and ordered to leave before the end of their contracts.

Those who spoke to the BBC on Wednesday believed the market should stay.

Amy Richardson, a trainee chef, said she visited the market for ingredients including fish and fresh produce.

"It seems to be somewhere locals use more than anybody so I think everybody would be upset," she explained.

Lorraine Wooton works at the Bull Ring Indoor Market as a hairdresser and said she loved it there

Lorraine Wooton, 50, who works at the market as a hairdresser, said she believed there were enough apartments in the city already.

"I love the environment and the people," she said. "It's very friendly. It's been going for years and it's a shame."

Ney Colonia, who was out shopping, agreed it was an important part of the city.

"I would like to see it [stay] open," the 22-year-old said. "I don't think it's a good idea to close it down."

Ney Colonia was shopping when she heard the news

Huge plans for a £1.9bn redevelopment of the city's nearby Smithfield site will see residential living, offices, a park and retail and cultural spaces brought to the city.

That scheme will include some kind of market trading space and it is hoped some traders from the Bull Ring will be relocated there.

But this will depend on the two separate projects' respective timelines and it is possible they could be moved out before a new market is operational.

Hammerson said it was a long-term investor in Birmingham and had played an integral role in its transformation the city centre.

A statement added the firm was looking forward to providing more updates in due course.