Survey of Seven Sisters Indoor Market site finds buildings are “full of asbestos” but community benefit society still in “favourable position” to take scheme forward, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Santiago & Elena from Wards Corner Community Plan — Elena and Santiago from Wards Corner Community Plan

Plans to obtain the lease for a disused market space in Seven Sisters have moved one step closer as conversations with stakeholders to secure the site progress.

Seven Sisters Indoor Market, located within a row of terraced buildings at Wards Corner, next to the tube station, has been home to traders mainly from Latin, Caribbean and African backgrounds since 1985 – earning it the name ‘Latin Village’.

Faced with economic struggles, a decaying building, and proposals by developers to demolish the site for residential use, local community groups have fought for years to retain the site for its original purpose.

Wards Corner Community Plan, a community benefit society (CBS) set up in 2022, is now in talks with landowner Places for London, Transport for London’s property arm, to obtain the lease for the market and start restoring it.

This has been a lengthy process, however, as the group’s two new staff members explained to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this month.

Referring to developer Grainger’s forestalled attempt to turn the site into flats in 2021, Santiago Cardoso, the community plan’s general manager, said TfL and Haringey Council’s agreement to instead proceed with a social and community-led initiative opened the door for the CBS.

Santiago said: “We are trying to prove there are different ways of achieving things because this is not motivated by profit.”

The plans include restoring the market stalls with affordable rents for traders, as well as providing affordable offices and space for community activities, reading groups, childcare facilities, restaurants and more.

“Of course this has to be financially sustainable,” Santiago said. “We need to have some profit to reinvest, but the end goal is not to say ‘20% growth every quarter’ it’s about trying to shape and shift this mindset.”

An expression of interest has been submitted to TfL and, as the only bidders, the CBS is in a “favourable position”. However, the group still has hurdles to overcome.

Elena Escalante, communities and communications manager, said: “Since TfL shut down the building in 2021, they’ve been carrying out extensive surveys of the site and identified some key issues.

“The building is full of asbestos, there’s lots of structural issues that are difficult and lengthy to deal with, and this has only come to light recently.”

Wards Corner as it looks currently (credit Grace Howarth/LDRS)

With the market being closed ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, there were plans for a temporary market announced in 2023 to allow traders to return in the meantime, but this has been “massively delayed”.

Elena said: “Having said all that, we’re at a good, optimistic point. As of early August, we received news from TfL that they want to establish a more formal partnership with us and the council, alongside an independent advisory group TfL set up to help with move plans.

“That means we’re going to be working way more closely, there’ll be more communication, and hopefully this will really speed up the process of restoring and bringing the building back to the community.”

Although the priority is to start restoring the building, Elena has appealed for volunteers and traders to join the CBS and get involved.

She said: “When me and Santiago arrived [three months ago] morale was low, there have been a few meetings this year, quite serious, and I felt the need to celebrate what we’ve done so far.”

Next Wednesday (28th) the CBS is holding a ‘Summer Fiesta’ at The Post Bar in Tottenham High Road.

Elena said: “There’s that need to come together, reunite, meet new faces, we know some people from the neighbourhood and the campaign, but [there’s] loads we still don’t know.”

Sarah Williams, deputy leader of Haringey Council, said the civic centre was keen to support the CBS and facilitate the reinstatement of traders at Wards Corner.

She said: “We also remain committed to working in partnership on a new design for the area that complements TfL’s plans to bring forward a new market.

“It is vital that the future of the Wards Corner site, including the market, is driven forward by the community.”

For more information on the CBS and to become a member:
Visit Wards Corner Community Plan

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