New Covent Garden Flower Market Opens

The UK’s biggest specialist flower and plant market has opened at its new home in Nine Elms, London giving its 21 world-class traders a more inspiring environment to trade flowers. The opening hails the start of a new era for this historic market which dates back to 1670, and will ensure the wholesalers continue to supply flowers for London for many generations to come.

BDP’s design creates a lively market with a vibrant atmosphere for both buyers and sellers. Its modern space with a simple layout and high level of natural light is the perfect backdrop for the colourful displays, and a state-of-the-art conditioning system keeps the hall at the perfect temperature for storing flowers.

The scheme represents the first market phase of the BDP and SOM masterplan for the 23 hectare regeneration scheme for New Covent Garden Market, the UK’s largest fruit, vegetable and flower market, which has been developed over the last six years with St Modwen and Vinci Construction.

BDP has also designed the proposals for 47,000 sqm of modern wholesale market facilities, consolidated onto one site for the 200 tenant businesses, which employ over 2,500 people. The building is a temporary home for the traders until they relocate to the permanent Flower Market in five years’ time which will be located next to the New Covent Garden Food Quarter, a short stroll from the new Nine Elms tube station.