Birmingham Wholesale Markets: Council leaders back move

The current wholesale markets sit on a 21-acre site in Digbeth

Council leaders have backed plans to move the Birmingham Wholesale Markets out of the city centre.

The city council has previously said the markets' present Pershore Street site, in Digbeth, was not "fit for purpose" and was a third empty.

A consultation will now be held over whether to move the markets to a smaller site in either Witton or Washwood Heath by 2016.

Traders have said they fear moving the markets could lose them customers.

The move was agreed at a meeting of the city council's cabinet on Monday afternoon.

A private report, detailing the costs involved in any move, was sent to council leaders ahead of the meeting.

The authority has said it is unable to release the figures publicly at present because they are confidential and involve a third party.

The council has said the new market site will be half the size of the existing one, with 72 standard sized units available.

The current wholesale markets sit on a 21-acre site and include horticultural, meat, fish and poultry markets.