New Spitalfields Market is a fruit and vegetable market on a 31-acre (13 ha) site in Leyton, London Borough of Waltham Forest in East London. The market is owned and administered by the City of London Corporation. The market is Europe's leading horticultural market specialising in exotic fruit and vegetables - and the largest revenue earning wholesale market in the UK.[1]
History
editIt had previously been located at Spitalfields Market just off Bishopsgate, on the east side of the City of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Due to traffic congestion, lack of space for parking lorries, as well as out of date market buildings (e.g. poor refrigeration facilities) - the market was relocated out of the Tower Hamlets in the early 1990s.[2] This followed the move of Covent Garden Market and Billingsgate Fish Market out of the city centre. The new, purpose-built location in Leyton opened in May 1991.[3]
The wholesale fruit and vegetable market at Stratford Market - founded in 1879 by the Great Eastern Railway as a competitor to Spitalfields - also closed and consolidated at the New Spitalfields site.[4] The old market on the edge of the city was subsequently regenerated, becoming Old Spitalfields Market - with a range of public markets as well as independent local stores and restaurants.[5]
The market today
editThe market hall houses 115 trading units for wholesalers dealing in fruit, vegetables and flowers. Modern facilities in the market hall include cold storage rooms, ripening rooms and racking for palletised produce. The site has extensive parking facilities for customers, delivery vehicles and market personnel.
There are four separate buildings providing modern self-contained units for catering supply companies. Over 9,688 square feet (900 m2) of office space is also provided, and there are five ancillary accommodation units with cafes, toilets and maintenance facilities. The services of a diesel/propane supplier, specialist pallet services and forklift truck maintenance companies are also available. Security for the market is provided by the Market Constabulary.[6]
The Old River Lea runs on the western edge of the site.
Future
editIn early 2019, the City of London Corporation's main decision-making body, the Court of Common Council, proposed that Billingsgate Fish Market, New Spitalfields Market and Smithfield Market should move to a new consolidated site in Dagenham Dock.[7] A formal planning application was made in June 2020,[8] and received outline permission in March 2021.
However, in November 2024, the Court of Common Council announced it did not intend to proceed with these plans as they were no longer economically viable; instead, Billingsgate Fish Market and Smithfield Market would close in or after 2028 with no replacements.[9] New Spitalfields Market was unaffected by the decision and would continue as a key London hub for wholesale fruit and vegetable produce.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Spitalfields". newspitalfieldsmarket.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "London Wholesale Markets Review (PDF)". Greater London Authority. July 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "History of New Spitalfields Market". City of London. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ Cherry, Bridget. (2005). London. 5, East. O'Brien, Charles., Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1902-1983. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-10701-3. OCLC 57431801.
- ^ "Visitor Information". Old Spitalfields Market. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "New Spitalfields Market > About Spitalfields". City of London website. City of London. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
- ^ Tobin, Olivia (28 April 2019). "Historic Smithfield Market to move as preferred new location revealed". www.standard.co.uk.
- ^ Garner-Purkis, Zak (3 June 2020). "City of London lodges plans to move historic markets to Dagenham". Construction News. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Smithfield and Billingsgate: Meat and fish markets to close". BBC News. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ "City of London Corporation ends markets' move to Dagenham as traders decide their next move". City of London Corporation. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.