Any twitchers with their sights set on the BirdBox may be able to tick ‘Hi-Viz official’ off their list as plans for its redevelopment get underway.

A date for physical works to start on the Former Market Hall site have yet to be confirmed but locals may spot contractors and officers conducting on site surveys in the near future.

Ecological and topographical studies have already been completed with transport and highways assessments and structural investigations due to take place before the end of the month.

Residents, organisations, and businesses are being encouraged to continue using the BirdBox, whilst plans to build on the site’s success continue to take shape.

In this interim period, hirers of the event space will also receive help and support from the council for their proposed events, to encourage as many organisations, businesses, or individuals to take up the offer as possible and keep the BirdBox in use ahead of any potential redevelopment.

Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr Karen May, said: “The development of this site will create a new town centre destination, increasing day-time footfall and strengthening the evening economy to improve the viability and vitality of Bromsgrove. BirdBox gave us a taste of what is possible, and we will build on the success of this. In the meantime, we really want the community to continue using this space as much as possible.

“We want to take users of the BirdBox on the journey with us as we look to redevelop this site, so look out for consultation on this coming very soon. Whilst the structure of the site might change, think of it as ‘building a better BirdBox’ because we’ll be getting a new and improved indoor and outdoor space for all of our communities, businesses, and residents to enjoy.”

Works to regenerate this important town centre site are funded through a £14.5m grant secured by the council from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The grant will also fund the demolition and site clearance work on the Windsor Street site (former Fire Station and Library site) ahead of planned redevelopment by a private residential partner, as well as highway improvements to High Street South.

The Former Market Hall project will deliver a landmark building, providing flexible office space, business start-up and co-working spaces with restaurants and bars on the ground floor and a proposed Pavilion building for hosting exhibitions, cultural and community events, surrounded by new public space.

The successful Levelling Up Fund bid put forward proposals to create a vibrant new commercial and cultural hub for the town centre. The project will deliver up to 2,500 sqm of flexible commercial/cultural space that encourages new businesses and visitors to the area and builds on the success of the BirdBox. The development will create better connectivity between and within key retail and leisure sites and the whole development will achieve a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating (BREEAM is the world's leading science-based method of assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings).

Cllr May added: “Successfully bidding for the levelling up funding for this project was amazing news and now, lots of work is taking place in the background to take this forward and make our vision a reality. A Project and Cost Management consultant along with a Multi-Discipline Design consultant have now been successfully appointed and the ball is well and truly rolling on this project. The future for Bromsgrove looks better than ever.”

If you would like to hire Bromsgrove BirdBox over the next few months, please contact the council’s events team on 01527 534030 or email events@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

More information about the former Market Hall site will be added to the council’s website as and when it is appropriate to share this with the public, and public exhibitions will be held as part of the Planning Application process.