New Covent Garden begins hunt for market design team

                        Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) is looking for a design team for the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market in Vauxhall, London.   The design brief includes efficient use of the grocery market space and focus on the operational requirements of the market tenants.   CGMA says its primary objective is to “secure a fully functioning and financially viable market.”   The deadline for bids is the end of January 2008.   Baroness Brenda Dean, chairman of CGMA said: “We want to ensure that our new market is designed to the highest possible standards. By procuring a highly skilled and specialist team we will be able to fully address the challenges we face and provide a Market which will be an exceptional trading environment for our tenants and their customers.’   A two year programme started in September 2006 to replace the 30 year old grocery market with a modern alternative.   An ambitious scheme for an alternative new “Vauxhall City” is also being driven by a powerful 250-strong group of wholesalers, determined that the 56-acre government-owned site remains the UK’s largest fresh produce market.   The traders, who hold long-term licences at the market, are understood to have the backing of an unnamed major developer and international bank.   helen.roxburgh@egi.co.uk