Cushman & Wakefield wins Smithfield Market regen brief 

Birmingham City Council has appointed Cushman & Wakefield to masterplan and dispose of the 34.6-acre Smithfield Market site in the city centre. The wholesale market is one of the largest city centre redevelopment opportunities in Europe, and will include a market, a leisure hub with independent retailers, restaurants and hotels, a residential neighbourhood and redevelopment of the public realm. The site was made an enterprise zone in 2012, and is intended to catalyse the regeneration of the southern gateway area. [caption id="attachment_878734" align="aligncenter" width="775"] Click to expand[/caption] Development of the site is expected to deliver 3.2m sq ft of mixed-use scheme, new homes and 3,000 jobs. The scheme would have an investment value of more than £500m. David Tonks, head of Cushman & Wakefield’s Birmingham office, said: “The site is well placed to capitalise on the rich history of the area. The opportunity is close to the city’s world-class retail offer, the creative and knowledge hub and the future High Speed 2 terminus.” Tonks said the joy of the scheme was that it was not a scheme dominated by one sector such as industrial or retail, but a fully mixed-use development, right in the heart of the city. He said the most important aspect would be the opportunity to create thousands of family orientated homes. The aim is to have a shortlist created by the end of 2017, with an emphasis on a development partner that can work alongside the council’s vision for the site and evolve the scheme alongside Birmingham’s changing requirements. They will also need to be able to have the balance sheet to deliver a huge scheme that could take years. The current wholesale city market will be relocated to The Hub in Witton, a purpose-built facility, later this year. To send feedback, e-mail alex.peace@egi.co.uk or tweet @egalexpeace or @estatesgazette