The proposals were originally consulted upon in November 2009, and since then the Covent Garden Market Authority has been further developing the plans. In total, 2,500 new homes are expected to be provided as part of the development.
Artist's impression of the site. Click to enlarge. Copyright CGMA.The plans see the the construction of a new market on the site of the existing fruit and vegetable market; the existing flower market would be merged into this new market. This new market would address some of the key issues of the existing premises, replacing inflexible trading units with modular units, improving the traffic circulation and road layout, and developing a more efficient use of the land available. Solar panels would be included in the roof design of the new market, as would a water reclamation system. Development would be phased in such a way that market traders would only need to move one time, however market traders would likely need to fund re-fit costs as they move into the new premises.
Vehicle access to the market would continue to be via Nine Elms Lane, with emergency-only access to be provided via Pascal Street.
To fund the redevelopment of the market, the site of the existing flower market would be redeveloped as a residential-led site, additionally featuring a hotel and retail outlets. The plans for this site are being drawn up by Foster + Partners, and presents an Arcadian vision, with the development centred around the pedestrianised Linear Park (40-60m in width), with vehicular access restricted to underground service routes.
An artist's impression of the proposed linear park and housing. Click to enlarge. Copyright CGMA.
The old flower market site, combined with additional sites on Thessaly Road, Sleaford Street, and Crimsworth Road, would provide 2,500 homes, with an expected 15% proportion of affordable housing. The old flower market site would include a total of nine buildings, six of which would be 8-15 storeys in height, and three of which would be 25-46 storeys in height. This would mean that the tallest building on the site would be only fractionally shorter the the approved 50-storey tower at St. George Wharf.
The scheme would additionally include:
- Underground car and cycle parking, car club facilities, and service access.
- New shops, cafes, restaurants and commercial spaces.
- A new supermarket.
- Seating areas and play spaces within the publicly-accessible linear park.
- 250-room 'premium' hotel with additional provision of serviced apartments.
- "Community Facilities" (the exact nature of which is to be defined)
- New pedestrian links through the site, allowing improved connectivity between Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane (currently the market acts as a barrier between these two roads).
The developer is proposing that only 15% of the development is affordable housing, on the basis that they will likely be expected to contribute to the cost of the proposed Northern Line Extension to Nine Elms and Battersea.
A copy of the consultation booklet can be downloaded from the New Covent Garden Market website.
The developers are expecting to submit plans for this significant development to Wandsworth Council this summer, with a planning decision planned for the end of this year. Whilst not in Oval ward, this development does have the potential to affect local residents, and therefore we are keen to hear your views on the proposals, either via email or in the comments box below.
