As 15 traditional wholesalers at New Covent Garden Market reunite on a newly opened “Buyers’ Walk” on January 12^th, Project Director at Covent Garden Market Authority Tony O’Reilly explains the detail behind the latest milestone in the redevelopment of the UK’s largest horticulture wholesale market.

The wholesale section of Block B in the now four-fifths redeveloped market is 205 metres in length and 64 metres wide. The roofs of the 60 units are 14.5 metres high and the buyers’ walk section running down the central aisle is 6.5 metres wide.

The LED lighting spanning the completed block is 550 Lux, which is almost double the level of the now vacated original Blocks C/D. The entire area is fitted with sprinklers for fire protection, checker plates on walls and corners to reduce impact damage, and gulleys for wastewater on flooring that has a life expectancy of 15 years.

“For buyers, what we have now is a more spacious and brighter environment with six easy access points and an unhindered view along the entire 205 metres, which when the wholesalers have their impressive fruit and vegetable shows out each night will make for a great spectacle,” said Tony. “The 6.5 metre buyers’ walk is a little narrower than the previous iteration, but the deeper buildings and much improved lighting create a more attractive trading environment.

“Each trader has been free to kit out their units in whatever way best suits their business, so there is a mix of mezzanines for storage and office space, false ceilings and roof-high racking in temperature controlled units that give them all the freedom to showcase their product and run their operations in their own way, to suit their product and customer profiles.”

Everything has been constructed to ‘Very Good’ BREEAM standards, added Tony, with sustainability and safety front of mind and the resin floors will be easier to clean and maintain, so keeping the look and feel of newness for longer.

“Like everyone else associated with the Market, I’m sad to see 50 years of fantastic and storied history come to an end,” Tony said. “However, what we’ve built here has the potential to make a real difference to the tenants of this Market as they continue to adapt to the changing competitive marketplace over the next few decades.”