Delivering a Fair Recovery – work begins on £1 million Ridley Road market upgrade
New street trees, free public wifi and cashless payment machines will be among the improvements coming to Ridley Road, as work on a £1 million upgrade to safeguard the future of the much-loved street market starts today.
The changes, part of an overall £1.5 million joint investment between Hackney Council and the Mayor of London that also includes nearby Ashwin Street, have been designed in collaboration with the market’s traders over the last year, helping create a greener, safer and more accessible market for residents, local businesses, shoppers and visitors.
This investment is the first major project delivering on feedback from thousands of residents and community groups through the Dalston Conversation, as part of the Council’s plan to ensure a fair recovery from the pandemic in Dalston.
The funding will create improved facilities for traders and better public spaces throughout the market, with new trees, planting, greenery and places to sit. New signage and dedicated character areas such as a hot food stall zone and market garden area with trees and seating, are also included.
Work will also begin in October to improve public spaces on Ashwin Street, which is home to some of Dalston’s iconic destinations, including Cafe Oto and the Arcola Theatre. The street will see new signage, street trees, planters and paving to help build on its reputation as a focal point for Dalston’s creative and cultural organisations while making it greener, more accessible and more pedestrian and cycle-friendly.
We started the Dalston Conversation three years ago with a commitment to listening to the priorities of the community so that we can protect what is most important about Dalston and ensure local people and businesses are the first to benefit.
This landmark investment shows that we’re not just listening, but acting on what we’ve heard – starting by securing the long-term future of Ridley Road Market to keep it at the heart of Dalston and a focal point in a fair recovery from the pandemic.
The investment in Ridley Road and Ashwin Street is one of the first projects being delivered as part of the Dalston Plan – a new set of guidelines to shape the future of Dalston including Council projects in response to feedback from the Dalston Conversation. Consultation on the draft of the Dalston Plan is open until 1 October. Find out more at hackney.gov.uk/regeneration-dalston