Brierley Hill market in doubt as hall for sale

The hall in High Street could sell for as much as £1 million after the family firm which have owned it for generations announced their intention to sell.

Estate agents appointed to oversee its sale said the hall would be sold with the intention it continues to operate as a market – but that ultimately its future would be decided by the new owner.

The indoor market has operated from the market hall since 1930 with around 100 stallholders still selling a range of produce and other goods. It was described by estate agents Wilks Head and Eve as an 'attractive key asset' which 'forms a thriving centre to the retail scene in Brierley Hill'.

Iain Dewar, from the firm, said: "The family partnership, who have owned the market for many years, have now decided to offer the opportunity of ownership and running of the market hall into new hands.

"The market hall will be offered for sale as a going concern with the intention that it should continue operating in a similar style to the way it has traded for many years.

"Privately owned and run markets on the scale of Brierley Hill very rarely become available for sale so this opportunity is expected to appeal to a wide number of different parties."

However, when pressed on whether the future of the market was secure, Thomas Greenwell, from the firm, could not rule out the building being used for another purpose in the future. "It will be sold on the understanding it continues as a market. But it will be up to the purchaser to do with it what they see fit," he said.

Brierley Hill councillor Rachel Harris said she did not believe the sale of the building would put the market under threat.

She said: "Any property owner that comes in would clearly see that is what it is and how much potential there is there.

"It needs more capital investment to bring it up to the level people expect when they go out and shop."

The market hall, as it looks today, was built in 1930. It has been in the hands of the Shapeero family since the 1920s.