Leyton's New Spitalfields Market could move to Dagenham by 2026

The market is the largest in the UK selling fruits, vegetables and flowers and has occupied the site since the early 1990s.

The City of London Corporation, which owns the market, feels the site “does not meet the needs of a modern market” and hopes to move it and two other markets to Dagenham Dock.

The City of London’s newsletter reads: “The market now faces a series of pressing challenges and requires modernising to protect its future.

“Notably, some parts of the building are already outdated and there is not enough room for tenants to store and display their produce.

“Further, the restrictive site design, which has no unloading bays or delivery docks, creates substantial operating challenges, including conflicts between pedestrians and forklift truck drivers, which drive through the main market floor.”

The project needs planning permission from Barking and Dagenham Council but, if approved, the corporation hopes to finish the new site and move the market by 2026.

An online consultation is inviting feedback on how residents and communities may be impacted by the relocation of the market until July 3. Anyone affected can fill it out here.

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