The Corporation of London has issued its formal response to Defra on the review of London's wholesale market structure.
In it, the clearest hint yet has been made that the Corporation could be prepared to acquire the Nine Elms site, although it is stressed this would be as a going concern.
Chairman of the Corporation's markets committee Daniel Caspi, pictured, said: 'We have consulted extensively on this comprehensive review with the stakeholders, tenants and all those involved in and around Billingsgate, Spitalfields and Smithfield markets. Our response represents the long term view: however, it will need government-led legislation.
'It would allow New Covent Garden to build on the success and specialisation it enjoys whilst maintaining the critical mass of Smithfield and Billingsgate markets to enable them to flourish. We foresee the outcome will be a success for all London traders, and for the benefit of London as a whole.' The key points made by the Corporation of London are: • The food supply chain requirements for London and the south can be satisfied by reducing the number of wholesale markets in London to a composite market at Spitalfields, a separate specialist wholesale and catering supplier market at New Covent Garden and Western International.
• The Corporation of London is willing to discuss the transfer of New Covent garden from the government.
• Legislation to be introduced by the government to relocate Smithfield, Billingsgate and Spitalfields market on a composite site on the current Spitalfields site.
• New Covent Garden and Western International should remain on their existing sites.
There are several potential stumbling blocks to the 'plan', including the apparent unwillingness of tenants at the meat and fish markets to relocate and, if they were to relocate en bloc to Leytonstone, the effect this would have on the competitiveness of NCG and Western International.
Read freshinfo and the Journal next week for more details
