Priory Square to remain closed indefinitely after fire risk report

National World - LocalTV

Priory Square in Birmingham will remain closed indefinitely after serious fire safety issues were found. Attention now turns to what comes next, as traders face uncertainty and plans for a major city centre redevelopment move forward.

Transcript

00:00The shutters at Priory Square came down without warning. Now we know they won't be coming

00:07back up. More than 30 businesses, including the longer-running Oasis Market, were forced

00:13to close suddenly last week. Safety checks uncovered major fire risks. Developers say

00:18the work needed to make the building safe is far more than they can realistically carry

00:22out. Because of that, they've confirmed the centre will stay shut indefinitely. The closure

00:28marks the end of Priory Square as we know it, but it might also speed up a major city

00:33centre redevelopment that's been years in the planning. The site sits within the boundary

00:38of Martinu Gallery's project, a long-term regeneration scheme that could reshape this

00:43part of town. Plans already approved by the council include over 1,000 new homes, a hotel,

00:50new office space and a central square. It's been described as a future gateway for visitors

00:55arriving at the HS2 terminal at Curzon Street, just down the road from the site. There's

01:01also mention of new public routes for walking, cycling, trams and buses. Hammerson say they're

01:06still working closely with the council to move things forward, but there's still no

01:10confirmed date for when demolition or construction might begin. In the long run, developers say

01:17the scheme will support thousands of full-time jobs once it's built, including in retail,

01:22hospitality and office work. Hundreds more roles would be created during the build itself.

01:29But for now, many traders remain in limbo. With the doors closed for good, their focus

01:34has turned to salvaging stock, relocating if they can and pushing for clear answers

01:39on what help will be available next.

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