The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has approved plans for the redevelopment of the London Fruit and Wool Exchange in London’s Spitalfields.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has approved plans for the redevelopment of the London Fruit and Wool Exchange in London’s Spitalfields.
The plans, submitted by Exemplar, involve the development of 387,000 sq ft (36,000 m2) of office space as well as 32,000 sq ft of retail facilities. A carpark at the site will be demolished as well as a portion of the London Fruit and Wool Exchange in order to make space for the six storey-office project.
The plans were originally rejected by Tower Hamlets Council, despite being recommended by the borough’s planning officers, but an extension of powers granted in 2008 enabled mayor Johnson to 'take over' the application.
'The historic London Fruit and Wool Exchange, in the heart of London’s East End, is a former commercial epicentre to which producers and buyers flocked from miles around to do business,' said Boris Johnson. 'These plans will not only restore the façade to its former glory, but regenerate the Spitalfields area with thousands of new jobs, and brand new commercial opportunities. It will also make a vital contribution to the wider London economy and have a significant impact not just on Tower Hamlets but on surrounding boroughs as well.'
Exemplar expects the scheme to complete in 2015.
