Dagenham is worried': London borough in limbo after Smithfield and Billingsgate move axed

"Behind huge locked gates, the sprawling expanse of concrete and scrubland was supposed to be a hive of activity by now. Formerly the site of Barking Reach power station, these 17 hectares (42 acres) of industrial land at Dagenham Dock in east London were due to be redeveloped into a new, purpose-built wholesale food market for the capital. However, that changed late last year when the site's owners, the City of London Corporation, announced it had cancelled the development,"

"The corporation, which is exceptionally wealthy compared with typical UK local authorities, blamed inflation and rising construction costs, despite having already spent just under 230m of the project's 741m cost on buying and clearing the land. It has since faced a backlash over its plans to permanently close London's ancient food markets in 2028. The City of London ploughed a lot into clearing the site up, says the local Labour MP, Margaret Mullane, looking through the gates at the vacant lot."

Seventeen hectares at Dagenham Dock, formerly Barking Reach power station, were planned for a purpose-built wholesale food market to relocate Smithfield meat and Billingsgate fish markets. The City of London Corporation cancelled the redevelopment, blaming inflation and rising construction costs after spending just under 230m of an estimated 741m. The decision has prompted backlash over plans to close London's ancient food markets in 2028. Local representatives and residents view the cancellation as a major setback for Dagenham's economy and regeneration. The borough once hosted a large Ford factory that employed about 40,000 workers in the 1950s, now under 2,000. Council projections estimated 2,700 jobs from the market, offering an economic boost to an area with high deprivation.

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