New Spitalfields Market is a fruit and vegetable market on a 31-acre (13 ha) site inLeyton,London Borough of Waltham Forest in EastLondon. The market is owned and administered by theCity 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]
It had previously been located atSpitalfields Market just off Bishopsgate, on the east side of theCity of London in theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets. Due to traffic congestion, lack of space for parking lorries, as well as out of date market buildings (e.g. poorrefrigeration facilities) - the market was relocated out of the Tower Hamlets in the early 1990s.[2] This followed the move ofCovent Garden Market andBillingsgate Fish Market out of the city centre. The new, purpose-built location inLeyton opened in May 1991.[3]
The wholesale fruit and vegetable market atStratford Market - founded in 1879 by theGreat 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, becomingOld Spitalfields Market - with a range of public markets as well as independent local stores and restaurants.[5]
The 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 forpalletised 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 andforklift truck maintenance companies are also available. Security for the market is provided by theMarket Constabulary.[6]
TheOld River Lea runs on the western edge of the site.
In early 2019, the City of London Corporation's main decision-making body, the Court of Common Council, proposed thatBillingsgate Fish Market, New Spitalfields Market andSmithfield Market should move to a new consolidated site inDagenham 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]
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