OUTLINE PERMISSION TO BE GRANTED FOR NEW PURPOSE-BUILT LONDON FOOD MARKET

MAJOR MILESTONE FOR CITY OF LONDON PROJECT TO RELOCATE ITS HISTORIC FOOD MARKETS

The City of London has secured a resolution to grant outline planning permission from neighbouring London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to relocate its three historic food markets of New Spitalfields (fruit and veg), Billingsgate (fish) and, Smithfield (meat), to a single purpose-built site at Dagenham Dock in east London. 

The decision is a major milestone for the Corporation’s, ‘Markets Co-Location Programme (MCP)’, which  has been developed to bring together the three historic markets to one single site.

The Corporation point to each market facing a series of pressing and complex challenges with the condition and quality of the buildings being below what is expected of a modern wholesale market. This – along with the many constraints of the buildings – means the ability for businesses to maintain high standards and grow is an ongoing concern.

Dagenham Dock has been chosen to secure the long-term futures of the markets and the aim is to help to reduce unsustainable levels of traffic congestion in central London, improve the capital’s air quality and free up the existing sites for new homes and the City Corporation’s Culture Mile ambitions.   

Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, Catherine McGuinness, said:

“At a time when the wholesale food sector has been severely impacted by the pandemic, this outline planning approval will provide a welcome boost for the capital and the wider UK supply chain.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create one of Europe’s biggest wholesale market destinations, delivering thousands of new jobs and worth billions of pounds to the UK economy. We are excited to be building it in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, an area with huge potential, and to be part of the regeneration there.

“We are confident that these plans will give our markets and traders the modern facilities they need to thrive and grow, delivering significant benefits for future generations.”

For more information, visit the project website: www.wholesalemarkets.co.uk to find out more about the plans.

The full press release with further detail of the anticipated number of jobs and hoped economic benefits can be viewed on the Corporation’s website. 

Image Credit – Chetwoods