Sustainable Urban Markets

Strategic coordination
– bringing the sector
together
Proposal 1: That the GLA convene and partner a
Markets Board for London, linking to the London
Enterprise Panel.
London needs a strategic forum to
cohere a diffuse markets sector in
the capital.
Unlike many European cities
London’s retail markets are licensed
at district, rather than city level.
Devolved management respects
localism, but has tended to atomise
action around strategic issues.
The Future High Streets Forum
co-Chaired by Penny Mordaunt
MP, Minister for High Streets, Town
Centres and Markets, and DCLG’s
Retail Markets Working Group,
provide a platform for action at a
national level. Engagement from
London has been spasmodic.
The Association of London Markets
and officer led Street Trading Bench
Marking Group have struggled to
bridge the gap at a London level.
Market practitioners have long
agreed the need for a body to bring
the sector together, particularly
around shared challenges –
regulation, investment, jobs,
training and management.
The London Food Board, Chaired
by Rosie Boycott, comprised
of industry experts, is a good
model for collaboration. It has
reduced food waste and promoted
healthier more sustainable food by
working with wholesalers, schools,
authorities and the catering
industry. London’s markets would
benefit from a similar approach.
The Mayor’s office as London’s
strategic authority is well
positioned to bring key players
together in partnership to form
a new Markets Board for London
to cohere the sector.
Image: Station Road Market, Owain Jones
22 | Sustainable Urban Markets