‘Preferred’ developer chosen for Smithfield
THE city council has selected a ‘preferred’ developer to transform the former wholesale market site, hailed as one of Birmingham’s most significant schemes.
The cabinet this week agreed for the unnamed firm to move to ‘preferred bidder stage’.
It is one step short of a contractual agreement with the council but it will give the developer a ‘period of exclusivity’ to prepare a full planning application and business plan for the 42-acre plot known as Smithfield.
Smithfield has been earmarked for new homes, offices, markets and leisure attractions and is the biggest mixed use development site in Europe, said council leader Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End).
A masterplan published in 2016 described it as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity.
It said: “Capitalising on the city’s already established assets, the overarching vision for Birmingham Smithfield will be of a sustainable, green and inclusive place that has people at the heart of a zero carbon development.
“It will drive opportunities for the city’s economy creating new cultural and leisure attractions, vibrant retail markets and space for startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.
“It will be a distinctive place, that reflects the area’s rich history with high quality architecture, a network of green infrastructure, public spaces and squares and a dynamic new residential neighbourhood, that is reconnected to the wider city through new streets, public transport and pedestrian and cycle routes.”
Cushman and Wakefield has been acting as advisor to the council for Smithfield since 2016.