Chrisp Street Market

Stall owners in London’s first ever pedestrian built shopping area fear the threat of gentrification.

Poplar’s Chrisp Street Market in Tower Hamlets is home to market stalls, pubs, shops and a large clock tower and was built in 1951 as part of the festival of Britain.

In July this year Tower Hamlets Council approved a controversial re-development of the market by Poplar Harca, a housing organisation, despite strong opposition from stall owners who feared being priced out of the area.

A fruit and vegetable stall owner Ahmed Hussein said: “We are very worried about the future, rents will surely go up beyond what we can pay, business is already slower this year.

We have not given up, we will continue the legal fight, all the way to City Hall if necessary.”

The re-devotement was first presented a decade ago and has split opinion within the community.

Poplar Harca now has the green light to build flats, refurbish shops, and a brand new market.

To secure approval from Tower Hamlet’s council it had to raise the ratio of “affordable” homes to 200 homes, 35% of the total flats that will be built.

Poplar Harca did not respond to requests for comment.