Birmingham's Iconic Indoor Market Fears Demolition as Plans for Housing Development Take Shape.
For many Brummies, there is no place like the bustling Edgbaston Street car park market. The 550-year-old trading hub has become an integral part of the city's identity, attracting shoppers from far and wide with its unique blend of stalls selling everything from fresh seafood to fabric and phone goods. But as plans for a £1.9 billion development project in Smithfield take shape, concerns are growing that the market may be on the brink of extinction.
The council has announced that it will demolish the current market by 2027, citing plans to build 745 flats or 1,544 student bedrooms in its place. While officials have promised that existing traders will be relocated to a new permanent building, many are skeptical about the prospect of adapting to the changing landscape.
Greg Pearce, who has been selling shellfish at the market for over 200 years, is among those expressing frustration with the lack of communication from the council. "We need a new market that has life in it," he says. "It needs renovating." But as the market's long-term future hangs in the balance, Pearce and his fellow traders cannot help but wonder how they will survive in an increasingly gentrified city centre.
The decision to demolish the market has sparked fierce opposition from some quarters, with social historian Carl Chinn describing it as "the loss of who we are, our heart and soul." For Marcia Philbin, a lifelong market-goer, the impending demolition is not just about losing a trading hub – it's about losing an integral part of her childhood memories.
As the market teeters on the edge of collapse, concerns have been raised about the impact on local businesses and community cohesion. With footfall declining and many stalls being forced to close, some traders are worried that they will be priced out of the new market if rents rise too high. "What happens to us?" asks Lorraine Wooton, a 13-year veteran of the market's hairdressing trade. "Are we going to be in a tent over there?"
The council and property developers have promised to deliver modern and inclusive markets that reflect the city's diversity, but it remains to be seen whether their plans will be enough to stem the tide of destruction. As for Frank, who has been buying cockles at the market for decades, only time will tell if he'll still be able to find his beloved seafood in five years' time.
For many Brummies, there is no place like the bustling Edgbaston Street car park market. The 550-year-old trading hub has become an integral part of the city's identity, attracting shoppers from far and wide with its unique blend of stalls selling everything from fresh seafood to fabric and phone goods. But as plans for a £1.9 billion development project in Smithfield take shape, concerns are growing that the market may be on the brink of extinction.
The council has announced that it will demolish the current market by 2027, citing plans to build 745 flats or 1,544 student bedrooms in its place. While officials have promised that existing traders will be relocated to a new permanent building, many are skeptical about the prospect of adapting to the changing landscape.
Greg Pearce, who has been selling shellfish at the market for over 200 years, is among those expressing frustration with the lack of communication from the council. "We need a new market that has life in it," he says. "It needs renovating." But as the market's long-term future hangs in the balance, Pearce and his fellow traders cannot help but wonder how they will survive in an increasingly gentrified city centre.
The decision to demolish the market has sparked fierce opposition from some quarters, with social historian Carl Chinn describing it as "the loss of who we are, our heart and soul." For Marcia Philbin, a lifelong market-goer, the impending demolition is not just about losing a trading hub – it's about losing an integral part of her childhood memories.
As the market teeters on the edge of collapse, concerns have been raised about the impact on local businesses and community cohesion. With footfall declining and many stalls being forced to close, some traders are worried that they will be priced out of the new market if rents rise too high. "What happens to us?" asks Lorraine Wooton, a 13-year veteran of the market's hairdressing trade. "Are we going to be in a tent over there?"
The council and property developers have promised to deliver modern and inclusive markets that reflect the city's diversity, but it remains to be seen whether their plans will be enough to stem the tide of destruction. As for Frank, who has been buying cockles at the market for decades, only time will tell if he'll still be able to find his beloved seafood in five years' time.
It's like, what's the point of all that £1.9 billion development if it just gonna push out the little guys? I mean, those traders have been there for centuries! They need support, not some fancy new build with sky-high rents 
The council should at least try to find a way to preserve the market's character, you know? It's like, part of Birmingham's soul 
Maybe they can just renovate and make it more modern instead of getting rid of it altogether? That would be so much better 
greg pearce's been sellin shellfish 4 over 200 yrs lol that's dedication! 
we need a new market thats got life in it, not some soulless flats or student beds 
dont @ me council u cant just take away our heritage like that! 
what happens 2 all the small businesses & traders who'll be priced out of the new market?! 
. I mean, can you imagine Birmingham without it? It's like losing a part of its heart and soul 
.
i feel so bad for the traders who've been there for years, some of them for over 200 years! 
they deserve to know what's going on and have a say in their own future. and what about all the memories that are being made here? as someone who loves markets, it breaks my heart to think about it being torn down 
.
It's been around for centuries and it's a huge part of what makes the city so unique 
The thought of those little shops and stalls being demolished is just heartbreaking 
It's like losing a piece of ourselves 
I'm worried about the younger traders too - they'll be the ones who suffer if the rents get too high 
. The council should at least consider giving them more time to adapt or finding a way to keep the market's spirit alive in some form 
.
