Sad news for London’s living history, and fans of the historic Smithfield and Billingsgate markets: plans to move the markets have been rejected. The market’s futures have been unclear since plans to move were suspended a few weeks back. But they are now expected to close permanently, as plans have been reject outright. The closure could happen as soon as 2028.
The City of London Corporation has pulled out of plans to relocate the markets, in the wake of new plans for the future Dagenham site. As well as making way for new developments in Smithfield, the new site was supposed to allow space for several historic markets from London, including Billingsgate and Smithfield, to come together in one spot. The move had been suspended as the corporation looked into the new plans for the move. But on Tuesday the corporation voted to pull out of running the sites altogether.
The Smithfield and Billingsgate markets are the oldest meat and fish markets in London. Smithfield Meat Market has been operating on its current site in its current iteration since the 1860s. But the area has been home to a market for over 800 years. It’s home to truly impressive butchery history, and many chefs and butchers specifically mention their time working in or training at the market.
Billingsgate’s fish market boasts a similar historic pedigree, admittedly having already been relocated in the recent past. It was moved from its original spot near London Bridge to Docklands in the early 1980s.
Now the future of both of these markets looks bleak, indeed. Just last year, the Smithfield’s poultry market was shut, and now the fish and meat markets look to sadly be going the same way.
What happens next is not entirely clear. For now, market traders are still permitted to trade – until at least 2028. The City of London Corporation has said that it will compensate the market traders. According to The Times, compensation could be to the tune of more than £300 million.
But what price is there to pay, for the loss of London’s history? Not to mention, vital components of London’s food industry…