A team has been appointed to design the first phase of the £1.9 billion Smithfield project in Birmingham city centre.
The architects will work together with market traders, local communities and businesses to design a range of residential and commercial property across the 42-acre site near the Bullring.
Masterplanners Prior+Partners and David Kohn Architects are joined by dRRM, RCKa and Haworth Tompkins - all based in London - and Birmingham outfits Intervention Architecture and Minesh Patel Architects.
Eastside Projects, the space for artists in Digbeth, is also working in partnership with the architects and is currently engaging with market traders and customers to help inform designs for the new market which is planned.
Smithfield is set to be built on the former home of the Wholesale Markets following its relocation to the north of the city in 2018.
It could contain more than 3,000 houses, a new home for the historic Bull Ring Markets, shops, a hotel, dining out venues and a new public square to be used for activities including festivals and community events.
It is believed that the site could create more than 8,000 jobs in the long term and a public consultation on the masterplan will start in March after which a planning application for this and the first phase of work will be submitted.
James Amos is development director at Lendlease which is the principal contractor and joint venture partner of Birmingham City Council for the development.
He said: "Our chosen team of architects brings a fantastic blend of creativity, local talent and experience, alongside a clear commitment to sustainability.
"The design team is now developing initial proposals and in March we will begin formal consultation on the masterplan with local people, market traders and stakeholders to gather feedback on our ideas and help shape the best possible vision for Smithfield."
Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward added: "Smithfield Birmingham is a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a new community in the heart of our city and we are really excited to be working with Lendlease which has an internationally proven track record for bringing forward major developments like this."
