A council report this week revealed Hackney Labour’s plans to save the Ridley Road Shopping Village in Dalston, with the Council agreeing to lease the indoor market to provide affordable retail space for local traders.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Labour Deputy Mayor of Hackney and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, said: “under Labour’s leadership, Hackney Council is once again intervening to defend Dalston for local people and businesses. By securing the lease on the Ridley Road Shopping Village, we can secure the future of the indoor market as an affordable space for local traders.

“It will help deliver on the commitments Labour made at the last local election and in the Dalston Conversation that 5,000 people took part in ─ to protect Dalston’s character and future, ensuring local people and businesses benefit from growth.”

The plan followed years of campaigning to save the Shopping Village by local Labour Councillors Peter Snell and Soraya Adejare, which also saw Hackney Labour Mayor Philip Glanville intervene in 2018 to lobby against the eviction of the indoor market traders.

Following Labour’s campaign, the Council designated the building as an Asset of Community Value ─ which granted more powers to protect the building and pressure the landlord to keep the space for local traders ─ protecting the building for years to come.

The plan will see the Council lease 40 ground floor retail units and storage space to be managed by the Markets Service and rented at affordable rates to local traders. Existing traders and artists currently occupying the first and second floor will be prioritised for the refurbished units.

The plan is on top of funding secured by the Labour-run Hackney Council in partnership with the Labour Mayor of London to invest £1m in Ridley Road Market to make it cleaner, greener, and more accessible. Part of the investment includes the installation of free public wifi and cashless payment machines for market traders.

It is part of Labour’s wider mission to defend Dalston ─ launching the Dalston Conversation which 5,000 people took part in, securing the future of the Dalston Curve Garden, investing in Ridley Road Market and planning affordable homes for the future.

The Council’s report into the lease agreement is here and was tabled for a decision at the meeting of the Cabinet on 24th January.

A petition launched by the local Labour Councillors to save the Shopping Village is here: https://www.hackney-labour.org.uk/ridley/