The site of the former Barking Reach Power Station in Dagenham has been settled on as the preferred location for the relocation of Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields markets.
The City of London Corporation’s Court of Common Council members felt that the Barking Reach site, which the City Corporation bought in December, offered good potential to support the its wider vision in a location that was broadly acceptable to traders.
Other sites on the shortlist included Silvertown in Newham, Fairlop in Redbridge and Thames Enterprise Park in Thurrock.
See also: City of London to consolidate and relocate London’s markets
The City Corporation is to launch a public consultation later this summer on the consolidation of the markets and its preferred site.
Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the City Corporation would propose to bring forward a private bill in November 2020 to provide the statutory basis for the relocation of the markets, as parliamentary legislation is required to approve any relocation of the three markets.
Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, said: “We intend to use this new site to offer more modern facilities and space for traders to grow so that they can continue to support the capital’s food economy.
“Our number one priority is to maintain a top-quality market environment serving London.”
See also: What next for London’s markets?
James Tumbridge, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s markets committee, added: “The ambition to provide the right environment for the long-term success of our wholesale markets has taken another positive step forward.
“We continue to work toward a vision for a food centre suitable for London’s future, in terms of its scale and environmental impact.”
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