Students from University College London (UCL) toured New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) to witness the Market’s ongoing redevelopment first hand as part of their studies into the management and delivery of large-scale urban projects.

The group of 20 students was led by Dr Sonia Freire Trigo, an associate professor in urban planning, who has a background as an architect and urban designer. “NCGM’s regeneration is part of a wider project within the Nine Elms area, alongside Battersea Power Station and the United States embassy, so it’s super interesting to see how the Market is reinventing itself for the decades ahead,” said Sonia. “The module that I coordinate is called ‘Delivering Regeneration Projects’, learning the key components to deliver change on a large scale. It’s an amazing eco-system here.”

The students (above), were fascinated by the Market’s diverse mix of tenants – 130 in total – of all shapes and sizes which directly support more than 2,600 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs at the Market and many more across the UK’s supply chain.

“It’s amazing to have such a vast wholesale market bang in the middle of central London,” said student Rufus Mitchell. “The scale is huge and although I had heard of the Market before, I had no idea it was here – it’s almost like a hidden gem in the capital.”

As well as touring the Market site to see the newly built units alongside the original buildings, the students were shown images of what the Market will look like when the redevelopment programme is completed in Q4 2028, with a presentation from Covent Garden Market Authority's General Manager Rob McAuliffe (pictured centre, below).

For student Ilana Zeigerman, NCGM is the ‘perfect project’ to study. “I’m very interested in regeneration,” said Ilana, “as I’m originally an architect. So it’s amazing to see how much the Market is changing.”

Alex Aplin, who’s studying urban regeneration, could see how the Market performs a unique function within the city. “I’m very interested in the logistics from a procurement and logistic point of view,” he said. “I’ve been impressed by the new buildings and seeing them alongside the older buildings and the rail arches is such a juxtaposition.”