View looking south west along Whitechapel Road
Tower Hamlets Council has unveiled concept designs for improvements to Whitechapel Market as part of the £11m Whitechapel Road Improvement Programme.
Residents are invited to give their views on the regeneration programme, covering the area between Vallance Road and New Road, and Cambridge Heath Road and Sidney Street.
Plans include:
New market stalls supporting a better trading and shopping environment
10,000 sqm of public realm works, including improved pavements, street lighting, greening and street furniture
Improved market facilities including waste management
The council has launched an online consultation that runs until Sunday 9 January 2022.
Whitechapel Road is experiencing rapid transformation with the arrival of the Elizabeth line, the Council’s new Town Hall, and other forthcoming investments.
The improvements will mean more communal seating, less street clutter, and better-quality pavements. Plans have been developed with the conservation area in mind.
Greig & Stephenson Architects has proposed three types of stall that will support traders to improve their businesses and improve the shopping environment.
A prototype market stall will be installed on Whitechapel Road next year for market traders, residents and businesses to test ahead of expected delivery in 2023.
The new market stalls will provide increased protection from the wind and rain, an innovative on-street storage solution to reduce the time taken for traders to set-up their stalls, as well as incorporating new power and lighting to improve the shopping environment and out of hours use.
John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“These plans are a very welcome next step in the regeneration of Whitechapel. This area has a rich history that we want to celebrate. Rapid change is happening but Whitechapel will become the municipal heart of the borough and through the programme we can retain its distinct identity and secure the future of the iconic street market that serves the local community.”
Adam Parker, Director, Greig & Stephenson Architects, said:
“We are proud to be involved in this significant revitalisation of Whitechapel Market and the surrounding area. This important project seeks to enhance the identity of the market as one of London’s key community places, while also looking to enable further activities to occur outside of the market hours. The prototype is the exciting next step to test, with the traders and public, some of the innovative solutions being implemented in this scheme.”
Sunil Khosla, Chair, Whitechapel Market Trader Association, said:
“Whitechapel market and the surrounding business contribute an immense amount to the local community. We are cooperating with the council to improve, not only the appearance of the market, which is much needed, but also the experience for the shoppers and local residents. The proposed scheme will go a long way towards making that happen. We welcome the new investment that the council and the government is providing to improve the market and the surrounding area.”
The project team want to hear views from residents, businesses and visitors on the concept designs and are running an online survey from Monday 29 November to Sunday 9 January 2021. Go to talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/wrip for more information.
Posted on Monday 13th December 2021