Places for London welcomes traders back to the reopened Seven Sisters Market

Places for London, Transport for London’s wholly owned property company, has welcomed traders back to the reopened Seven Sisters Market, following critical safety works in recent years. The reopened market, which has temporary indoor and outdoor stalls reopened on 1 September helping traders to get back to proudly serving their community. 

On Saturday 4 October, Graeme Craig, Director and Chief Executive of Places for London, welcomed Tottenham MP, the Right Honourable David Lammy and Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor for Children and Families and London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey, as they joined the traders and representatives from the London Borough of Haringey and community groups to celebrate the opening of the market.

Seven Sisters Market first opened around 50 years ago, however, following its closure in 2020 due to health and safety concerns, surveys found the building to be in a dangerous condition preventing it from reopening. Since then, Places for London has worked with the traders and London Borough of Haringey to bring the much-loved market back to life ensuring that the community affected by the closure were part of the works throughout. The Mayor and TfL also made £2million available to ensure that the traders at Seven Sisters Market were protected and the site moved forward positively for the benefit of local community.

During the substantial works needed to build this entirely new temporary market, Places for London engaged extensively with the traders and council to agree a scheme that meets all the requirements of the traders including one-to-one meetings to agree specifications for their specific units. 

The temporary market features 40 new indoor and outdoor stalls with a new seating area and customer toilets. The brightly coloured outdoor market also opens up a new route between Suffield Road and Seven Sisters Road, helping to improve access for the community to and from the market and the nearby Victoria line station.

Communication with all traders has been central to the reopening of the market, helping to ensure the new market was tailored to their needs. Many of those who were trading from the former market will be returning to the new site selling a wide variety of goods and services from foods, advice and more. The day-to-day operations at the market will be run by Market Place who’ll be on-site to ensure all is running smoothly and that locals and traders can get the best out of the new site.

At the front of the market, a new community space has opened, providing services for the communities in Tottenham and beyond. The Wards Corner Community Benefit Society (CBS), long-standing guardians of the site, are establishing a mixed-use space for intergenerational learning and celebration that supports the resilience of traders and serves as a point of engagement for the future of the market.

Graeme Craig, Director and Chief Executive of Places for London, said: “Seven Sisters Market is a truly special location in this unique and important part of London. We are delighted to have now reopened the market, allowing the former traders to get back to serving the community they love. We have worked hard to retain the Latin American culture and vitality of the original market, while allowing it to operate safely again in new units. 

“Small businesses such as those at Seven Sisters Market are a vital part of London’s wonderfully diverse culture, and we will continue to work with traders and Haringey Council to bring forward a long-term solution that ensures the market is able to thrive at the heart of the local community.” 

Vicky Alvarez, trader at Seven Sisters Market, said: “The opening of the Seven Sisters Market marks a new chapter of growth and opportunity for the Latin American community. It is a testament to our resilience. We have worked very hard to continue, and we couldn’t be prouder to share these fantastic news that will empower and uplift our communities in Tottenham.”

Elena Escalante at the Wards Corner Community Benefit Society, said: “We are so thrilled to be back in the historical Wards Corner site, home to one of the most remarkable community movements of this century. We are proud to have been critically supporting our traders as they return, and to now be running the community space within the newly restored Market, offering an ambitious programme covering social services, cultural exchange activities and intergenerational events rooted in the Market's culture. This is Step 1 of our Community Plan.”

Nick Rhodes, Chief Executive of Market Place, said: “Market Place is delighted to have been chosen to partner Places For London, Haringey Council and the Seven Sisters Market traders in delivering a fabulous and long awaited community market at Seven Sisters.  The market is a truly unique, offering an abundance of culture, vibrancy and colour. I am sure the market will be a tremendous attraction for people of the community and afar.

“The market opening is a culmination of some tremendous hard work by all parties and the market will soon become a key and popular retail destination.”

 Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “I am delighted to see the Seven Sisters market reopen, enabling traders to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and bring a boost to the local economy.

“I am proud to have worked with TfL to have made £2million of funding available to traders to ensure that they were protected, and that the market’s truly unique atmosphere remains.

“The market is an important part of London’s diverse culture, and I am delighted South and Latin America food and goods are once again available for those locally and from afar, as we continue to work together for a better and fairer London for everyone.”   

The Rt. Hon. David Lammy MP said: “It’s wonderful to see Seven Sisters Market reopened and being enjoyed by people from across the area and further afield. Thanks to Places for London’s consistent work and eagerness to listen to the traders and community over the years. I’m delighted to see this great market back open, providing so much to all who come to visit.

"This special location is a hub for our community here in Tottenham and I am pleased to see the Latin American culture and community being particularly central to the development.  I urge everyone to come and experience this wonderful example of London’s diversity and culture through the people, great food and services to be found here." 

Councillor Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council, said:  “The re-opening of the market is another huge moment for the Latin American community in our borough.

“It is a remarkable achievement and testament most of all to the resilience and tireless campaigning of the market traders.

“When I took over as Leader of Haringey Council in May 2021, I was determined that the community’s voice would be heard. It’s been a long journey, but I’m delighted that this iconic cultural landmark is back in business.

“It is vital the market’s future as well as the Wards Corner site is also driven forward by the community, and we will continue to collaborate with them and TfL on their long-term plans for the area. 

“It was only recently that we unanimously passed a motion to officially recognise the Latin American community, and we will continue to do everything in our power to support them moving forward.”

The past five years have been understandably difficult for the traders, with many unfortunately unable to trade while works were ongoing. To help ease them into the move into the new site, Places for London is giving tenants reduced rents from the first 15 months and fitted units.

Work continues to bring the market back to life, and Places for London will provide business support to ensure the traders succeed with the reopening of their businesses. 

To learn more about Places for London’s work to reopen Seven Sisters Market, please see: https://www.placesforlondon.co.uk/projects/seven-sisters-market