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Comment by DrBazza | Hacker News Reader

The Corporation of London own the land Billingsgate is on. They've been looking to redevelop this for over a decade since the land's value is now magnitudes more than when it was built because of Canary Wharf and the new Canary Wharf Crossrail station.

It's prime real estate land, possibly the best plot in London right now. And so is Smithfield, or at least the land that Museum of London is on, and they're moving to Smithfield. For a while I expect.

The whole thing is just short term profiteering over tradition and a rich history. Some things need preserving.

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> Some things need preserving.

Mostly because modern cities only allow the most boring, safe things to be built. Less people would be whining if it was possible to build a thriving market like this elsewhere in the city, where it still makes economic sense. But there's probably a billion rules and therefore capital/political requirements where it's impossible. So the only contenders will be a bigco shopping market on the bottom floor of a condo building.

Open, chaotic markets with multiple small vendors is too risky (and too much fun) for modern top-down urban planners... so people see the only solution is to cling on to the dwindling past when that was still possible.

London has loads of small chaotic markets all over the place

> The whole thing is just short term profiteering over tradition and a rich history. Some things need preserving.

Some things do. But is this one of them? The article doesn't make a great case.

And building something new here won't necessarily be short-term.

Smithfield absolutely is. There's a large (and surprisingly atmospheric) underground car park under it and the Farringdon Elizabeth Line station has an entrance right there now too. Smithfield is one of my favourite "drive into London and park without headaches" spots when Stratford's hotels are sold out.

I'm sure they'll name the new luxury apartments nice names, that nod to the former history of the site.

> Welcome to Fish Market Flats, where history meets modern luxury! Nestled in the heart of the city, this iconic landmark has been reimagined into a vibrant mixed-use community that blends timeless charm with contemporary living. Once a bustling hub of maritime commerce, Fish Market Flats is now a beacon of urban sophistication, offering high-density condos designed to elevate your lifestyle.

> Picture yourself waking up to stunning city views, stepping out into a thriving community of boutique shops and artisanal eateries—all just steps from your front door. With thoughtfully designed interiors, cutting-edge amenities, and the character of a bygone era lovingly preserved, Fish Market Flats is more than a place to live—it’s a lifestyle, a legacy, and the future of urban living.

> Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary transformation. Fish Market Flats: Where History Finds Its New Home. Reserve your slice of history today!

> 1-bedroom studio flats, shared ownership, starting as low as £1.4m. Larger apartments PoA.

How much of that value was created by the food markets?

Billingsgate? Not so much.

The brief history of the area:

- Isle of Dogs, London, was the main docks area, which shutdown through the 1960s and 1970s due to standard sized containers and automation.

- 1982 Billingsgate moves to Isle of Dogs. There's nothing else there. Docks are closed. Land is cheap, and the site is easily accessible from the East for sellers, and from the West for buyers (London restaurants etc.).

- Creation of the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) in 1981 and the granting of Urban Enterprise Zone status to the Isle of Dogs in 1982, starts the conversion of the old docks into the new business zone

- From the 90s onwards CSFB, BarCap, MS, Citi, HSBC all move to Canary Wharf

- Property and land prices are now vastly higher.

- 2022ish, Crossrail opens. Land prices and property prices increase even more.

Corporation of London has long realised it's sitting on a gold mine: the land north of the North Dock is Billingsgate

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VnWimrk3mHw63MFP6

This feels like another instance of prioritizing short-term financial gain over preserving history and community infrastructure

Britain keeps on having a bad record with preserving stuff, I see.

Oh, Britain preserves stuff alright - they jar and pickle the past into a pastiche, while discarding the institutions and functions that they once had.

We have converted many Victorian train stations into car parks, public baths and lidos into car parks, and excellent examples of Georgian and Elizabethan architecture into car parks. Even Stonehenge is a drive-by attraction and car park, now.

> Some things need preserving.

The bank accounts of the wealthy?

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