Tenants at London’s New Covent Garden Market have instructed planning firm BNP Paribas to formally oppose the market authority’s plans for the redevelopment of the site.
The move follows complaints by members of the Covent Garden Tenants’ Association (CGTA) that they have been increasingly left out of the planning process. They argue that the plans will jeopardise supply of produce for 40 per cent of London’s meals.
CGTA chairman Gary Marshall told FPJ that the Covent Garden Market Authority’s (CGMA) plan has ignored a raft of suggestions and objections from tenants.
He said: “We were promised that the market’s tenants would be involved in the development of the design. But the evidence clearly suggests that this has merely been a political ploy to make it appear to the outside world that our views have been taken into account.”
Sticking points include the design of the market and the way the tenants are housed within it and the lack of an agreeable decamp plan that allows business to trade through the six-year redevelopment process.
Transport access and parking are also problems that tenants believe will drive customers away from the market and hamper distribution.
The market authority said it knows of some of these issues but refutes several of the allegations.
A spokeswoman told FPJ: “We have been aware for some time that there has been disquiet from a number of the tenants and we have never stopped listening to them. However, it is not good saying ‘it won’t work’ without saying why and we have never had any hard evidence why our outline plan won’t work.”
Tenants have also questioned the motives of the authority. Marshall said: “We understand... that there would have to be consideration of residential develop- ments and retail opportunities... we wanted to work with the CGMA and we don’t want to oppose their plans... but not when financial gain is being pursued to the detriment of the tenants of this market.”
However, CGMA is adamant this is not the case as its role is enshrined in law. “We have acts of parlia- ment that govern our role as landlord - the market authority only exists for one reason and that is to run a horticultural market.”
The government decision on the bids is due.
