The City Corporation is asking residents, workers and visitors for their views on the future of the Smithfield-Barbican area where the meat market will cease trading in three years time.
By David Wilcox
The City Corporation is asking residents, workers and visitors for their views on the future of the Smithfield-Barbican area where the meat market will cease trading in three years time. Albert Island in the Royal Docks is the preferred relocation site.
Last year the City announced a masterplanning process to guide development for next 30 years.
Consultants Something Collective have now started the first phase of engagement exploring people’s experience of the area and hopes for the future through interviews, walkabouts and an online survey.
A recent presentation to councillors by officers of the Regeneration and Development Group said:
“The Smithfield Barbican area has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a coherent, internationally-significant destination, which realises far greater social-economic value than the sum of its individual attractions”.
The masterplan area extends from the London Museum, which opens on November 28, through the meat market, to the Barbican, where the Arts Centre is being refurbished. There are plans for a major office development on London Wall West, former home of the Museum. A food hall and hotel is planned in The Annex building next to the Museum in West Smithfield.
In the past the Corporation has used the term cultural and commercial hub for the future of the meat market site, but at a Residents’ Question Time on October 8 City policy chief Chris Hayward said the site has infinite possibilities, “and we haven’t decided what those should be.”
He added:
“If I was given a pound for every developer who knocks on my door with their ideas and their vision for Smithfield Market, I’d be a very wealthy man, because people are constantly coming forward with schemes and ideas. And what my officers are doing is examining all of those. They’re thinking about a master plan. They will consult on what they’re thinking, and we will want all of you to feed back to us on those thoughts and ideas”.
A slide shows that the benefits from development could extend south to St Paul’s and north into Clerkenwell.
In 2020 the City published a vision for the meat market buildings which Peter Bill covered for the EC1Echo – Welcome to the “meet” market. Those plans were not followed through, and the masterplanning exercise represents a fresh start.
You can complete the online survey here, with further information in an FAQ here.
Further references in David’s blog post.
