The new combined Smithfield and Billingsgate market is expected to be operational in 2029
The City of London Corporation has committed to engage with and support a group of East London fishmongers if there are delays to Billingsgate Market’s relocation to Newham. The fishmongers, who are based on Ridley Road in Hackney, had petitioned against a Private Bill submitted by the Corporation as it seeks to pull out of running Billingsgate and Smithfield markets.
Their concern, as covered previously by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), was that they would be left stranded if Billingsgate were to close without a replacement. The petition was presented in front of an Opposed Bill Committee in Parliament in June, at which it was suggested the Corporation may be willing to engage with the fishmongers to discuss support if there was a delay in delivering a new market.
A Special Report published by the Committee has now confirmed this position. Zahaab Amjad, who represented the fishmongers at the hearing, told the LDRS concerns remain about whether “runaway delays” could lead to a gap in trade for fishmongers reliant on Billingsgate.
He added the Bill as it stands allows the Corporation “to wash its hands of its role in London’s wholesale markets, and as soon as they’re able, I think they’ll be more forthright with a realistic timeline, unlike their current façade”. A Corporation spokesperson said they were “happy” to make the undertaking.
Smithfield in the City is the UK’s largest wholesale meat market, and Billingsgate, which is in Poplar by Canary Wharf, is the country’s biggest inland fish market. The Corporation, which manages the sites, had planned to relocate both to a new state-of-the-art facility in Dagenham.
This was however canned in late 2024 due to rocketing costs, with Corporation members voting in November that year to pull out entirely from running the markets. The Corporation is instead supporting traders to secure a new site, identified as Albert Island in Newham, and construct a combined market.
Following the 2024 decision a Private Bill, formally known as the City of London (Markets) Bill, was submitted with Parliament, with Royal Assent required before the Corporation can officially stop running the sites. The Bill has been progressing through various stages since then and last month went before the Opposed Bill Committee.
At the session Richard Turney KC, the Corporation’s legal counsel, told MPs: “There is almost universal acceptance that the sites are no longer fit for purpose, and while both sentiment and habit make these decisions difficult, the traders and the Corporation, which is the market authority, the landlord and the landowner of Smithfield and in-part of Billingsgate, have recognised for some years the practical reality that these markets cannot continue where they are.”
Mr Amjad, who is the son of one of the petitioners, PM Prime Fish, told MPs the fishmongers have two concerns with the relocation – a potential gap in their ability to source produce if Billingsgate is closed before the new market is finished, and fears that it may never be built.
“These businesses rely on Billingsgate, going there three or more times per week to supply,” he said. “Without it they would have to close. One of the owners stated he would end up on benefits with no other options.”
In a Special Report published on July 16 members wrote that, following Mr Amjad’s concerns, they considered that the promoter, i.e. the Corporation, “should undertake, in the event of such a delay to the opening of the proposed new market, to work with the petitioners to attempt to support them and mitigate any impacts the delay might have on them”.
The Corporation’s legal counsel suggested they would be “amenable” to such an undertaking, the final wording of which is detailed in the report.
It states that if there is “a significant risk of a delay to the opening of a new Billingsgate market site, with the effect being that there will be a delay between the cessation of market trading at the current site and the commencement of trading at a new site, it will promptly engage in discussions with the proprietors of Makhdoom Foods Ltd, L&A Fishmonger and PM Prime Fish Ltd to explore any steps that can be agreed, including but not limited to any support that can be offered, to mitigate any negative impact on them”.
Commenting on the report, Mr Amjad said: “We believe CoL (City of London) is a pragmatic, benevolent organisation; they really do wish to make a change for the good of London as well as themselves, but can only achieve it through underselling the risks. I believe the MPs are aware of this too, as are the Ridley Road fishmongers, who, after receiving the undertaking, feel much more secure should a gap manifest.
“When some “unexpected externality” emerges, the fishmongers believe there will be many others who wish they had spoken up when they had the chance, but didn’t due to lack of foresight and feeling their voice wouldn’t have mattered. They are extremely thankful to Alicia Weston [Founder and Chief Executive of charity Bags of Taste] for alerting them to her initial petition.”
Mr Amjad added the Bill is an example of the Corporation compromising “with all parties involved”.
A City of London Corporation spokesperson said: “The Bill continues to progress through Parliament. We were happy to give an undertaking to Parliament to engage with the petitioners as to what steps can be agreed if there is a significant risk of a delay between the cessation of market trading at the current Billingsgate site and the commencement of trading at a new site.”
The Bill will now proceed to the Report state, a date for which is yet to be announced.
The combined new Smithfield and Billingsgate market is expected to be fully complete and operational by 2029.
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