Smithfield Market move on hold

The City of London Corporation has paused its plans to move Smithfield and Billingsgate markets to a new purpose-built site in Dagenham. The council, which owns and manages both markets, said the plan was being reviewed “to determine its next steps and to ensure the financial sustainability of the project”. The relocation of the two historic markets and their traders to Dagenham was given the go ahead in early 2021 and had been expected to move the Dagenham Dock site by 2027, freeing up the two central London locations for redevelopment. The Smithfield Market site will be used to house new cultural and commercial offerings, including the London Museum, while the land occupied by Billingsgate in Poplar is expected to redeveloped as housing. However, a paper prepared for a finance committee meeting on 12 November confirms the “cessation” of the planned move, adding that other options would be explored. The City of London Corporation said the scheme was being reviewed to ensure it was financially sustainable. Photo by Musto/REX/Shutterstock