The Corporation of London and New Covent Garden appear to be casting aside their differences for the greater good of the trade in London. Both parties confirmed this week they met with government to discuss the possibility of the Corporation running New Covent Garden Market in the future and becoming a market authority for London.
Daniel Caspi, the corporation's markets committee chairman, had already met with food and farming minister Lord Whitty last month. "We are exploring principles which are common to both of us and looking at the next stage forward," said Caspi. "We are looking at the principle of government extending an invitation to us to take on the market with the corporation being the market authority for London."
The chairman of Covent Garden Market Authority, Leif Mills, is also very optimistic. "The joint meeting we had on Tuesday with Defra was a very positive meeting and the ball is rolling," he said. "In my view the corporation is the only real interested party and I have always held the view the corporation is the logical owner for any new development of the market as a composite site: the Corporation of London has years of experience and therefore it would make sense."
Caspi told freshinfo that the talks are likely to continue throughout the summer. "The corporation has always said it is happy to talk with government about the future of New Covent Garden and the markets committee was pleased to accept the invitation from the minister to explore possibilities for all tenants in all London's wholesale markets," said Caspi. "By the autumn we hope we will have a clearer view of the future for the good of all the markets."
The news has been well received by tenants at New Covent Garden. "After an original negative interest from the Corporation of London with taking New Covent Garden over, we have just recently reached a stage where they [the corporation] now wish to start conversation with our landlords, Defra," Philip Emanuel, chairman of Covent Garden Market Tenants Association, told guests at the Nine-Elms market's 30th anniversary celebrations on June 12. "Friendly discussions have already taken place between the authority and the corporation and they appear to be the main party interested in the market. The tenants' association is fully aware of what is happening and has insisted that it be part of any discussion regarding the future of the market. I must stress that after 13 years as the chairman, I do feel that what now lies ahead is vital for us all, and more important than anything else.
"We must all pull together and map out a path in conjunction with any future owner, that will ensure the success of our market and take us through the next decade, with total conviction for a continuing and thriving market."
Covent Garden Market Authority general manager Mike Liggins is also encouraged by the news. "It is certainly a more positive position than previously in evidence from the corporation for us at Covent Garden and for the corporation itself," said Dr Liggins. New Spitalfields' tenants are also welcoming the development. "We are just keeping an eye on what is happening and it is a good thing that both parties are talking," said Jim Heppel, chief executive of the Spitalfields Market Tenants' Association.
Meanwhile, the Corporation of London is still seeking the right to appeal the judicial review decision over the granting of licences earlier this year for New Covent Garden tenants to sell meat and fish wholesale face-to-face at the Nine Elms site. The matter is also expected to be resolved in the autumn.
