Smithfield Market
Smithfield Market is the largest wholesale meat market in the UK and one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
The market has been at heart of the capital’s food industry for centuries, serving Londoners with fresh produce as well as providing tenants with the space to establish themselves as leading traders in their field.
The need to move
The market now faces a series of pressing challenges and requires modernising to protect its future. However, its Grade II* listed buildings means there are limitations on the modifications that can be made to improve trading conditions and enhance the efficiency of the market.
One of the biggest challenges for Smithfield Market comes from being in an open environment and the ongoing risk of mixing HGV’s forklift trucks, market workers, pedestrians, cars and cyclists. The risk between market operations and the public is expected to become even more challenging with the opening of the Elizabeth line and the Museum of London’s relocation to West Smithfield.
Due to the issues facing Smithfield and the other two wholesale markets, the City of London has plans to colocate Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields for the first time in their histories at a new purpose-built site in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, at Dagenham Dock.
New cultural and public spaces
In January of this year, architects Studio Egret West were appointed to lead on the delivery of concept designs to bring new cultural and commercial spaces to the existing market site, should the meat market relocate, whilst protecting the historic fabric of the market buildings.
This is an indicative sketch and is not the final design.
Meanwhile another architectural practice, Hawkins\Brown, has also been appointed to deliver exceptional new public spaces across the whole Smithfield area which runs from Farringdon Street to Aldersgate.
This is an indicative sketch and is not the final design.
In turn, the projects will help realise the vision for ‘Culture Mile’, a vibrant, exciting and welcoming new destination in the north west of the Square Mile.
The plans are still at a very early concept stage and the City of London will be providing opportunities for local residents and businesses to provide feedback on proposals as they are brought forward over the next twelve months.
Next Steps
The City of London will be submitting a planning application to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for the co-located markets site in the coming weeks.
If these plans are approved by the local authority then it will be a step towards the co-location of Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields at Dagenham Dock.
How to get involved
If you have any further queries, you can get in touch with us via:
When emailing, please add ‘Smithfield’ to the subject line.
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