Groundbreaking takes place on new Wholesale Markets

(L-R): Steve Smith, Managing Director of Benniman Construction; Majella Lynch, Project Director, IM Properties; Jason Jasper, UK Project Director, IM Properties; Cllr Ian Ward, Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council; Paul Marlow, LSH; Richard Lawrence, Development Director, IM Properties; Simon Garrad, Head of Project Delivery, Birmingham City Council.

Work is now commencing on the delivery of Birmingham’s brand new purpose-built Wholesale Markets at The Hub in Witton.

Councillor Ian Ward, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, joined Richard Lawrence of IM Properties and Paul Marlow of Lambert Smith Hampton to mark the start of the development.

Richard Lawrence said: “This is an important step towardsthe delivery of what will be a truly fit-for-purpose, 21st Century location for the Wholesale Markets and a genuinely significant development for Birmingham’s continued growth and success as a destination.”

Located on the 18 acre site at The Hub, the development will include a 241,885 sq ft facility which has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the UK’s largest combined wholesale food market.

The markets will transfer from their current site on Pershore Street in Birmingham city centre once the building is completed at the end of 2016. This will clear the way for the delivery of the council’s 34 acre, £500 million mixed-use Smithfield development.

Acquired by IM Properties in 2013, The Hub is Birmingham’s premier distribution and industrial site, with the capacity for over 1.6 million sq ft of employment space. The site is well connected to the national road network with Junction 6 of the M6,  the A38 and A34 all within a 10 minute drive.