Revamp of 'crucial' Covent Garden market approved

The largest fresh produce market in the country has been given the go-ahead for a major redevelopment.

New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms, which employs 2,800 people working for 250 companies specialising in flowers, fresh fruit, vegetables and catering services, has long been in need of investment. The 57-acre site's sprawling layout and ageing facilities, unchanged since 1974, have made it uneconomic to run and prompted the Government to approve the revamp. It will provide modern market facilities for traders and customers, funded by the release of surplus land.

Covent Garden Market Authority, which runs the market-on behalf of the Department for Food and Rural affairs, is searching for a private development partner with work expected to begin next year. Plans may include a 540,000 sq ft trading area with space for new businesses. environment, Food and Rural affairs secretary Hilary Benn said the authority had worked hard on plans for the market which is "crucial" to London's food chain.