A beloved food destination that has become a cornerstone of south London community life is set to be demolished following the narrow approval of a controversial high-rise development.
Southwark councillors voted by a slim margin on Wednesday to grant planning permission for the ambitious Borough Triangle project, which will transform a 1.5-football-pitch-sized area into a complex featuring residential towers soaring up to 44 storeys high.
The £500 million Berkeley Homes scheme will deliver 892 new homes to the area, alongside office space, retail units, and a community centre. However, the decision has sparked disappointment among local residents who have fought to preserve the Mercato Metropolitano food hall, which has operated at the site for nearly a decade.
Cultural Hub Lost
The Mercato Metropolitano, housed in a repurposed paper-making factory, has grown into a thriving cultural destination attracting over 600,000 visitors annually. The market has provided a platform for 40 independent food traders, many of whom will now need to find alternative locations.
Nina Wessel, a local resident, expressed her dismay at the decision: “This market has become so much more than just a place to eat. It’s where our community gathers, where families bring their children, and where small businesses have been able to grow. Losing it will fundamentally change the character of our neighbourhood.”
Berkeley Homes has committed to temporarily rehousing up to 12 of the traders during the construction period, with plans to incorporate a new market space within the completed development. However, this offers little comfort to the remaining vendors who face uncertain futures.
Historic Buildings Lost
The development will also result in the demolition of several significant buildings, including the century-old Institute of Optometry, which holds locally listed status. Only the former Baptist church at 82 Borough Road and the façade of the adjacent property at number 83 will be preserved.
Housing Mix Questions
While the scheme meets Southwark Council’s requirement for 35% affordable housing, with 230 units offered at up to 80% of market rates and 153 designated for social rent, the development falls short on family accommodation. Only 13% of the total units will offer three or more bedrooms, substantially below the council’s 20% target for the area.
However, Berkeley Homes has concentrated family-sized units within the social housing portion, with over two-thirds of the social rent apartments featuring three bedrooms or more.
Public Realm Promises
Berkeley Homes representatives have promoted the scheme as creating a “thriving, diverse and welcoming neighbourhood with world-class architecture.” The development promises to deliver approximately 1,780 square metres of new public space in an area currently dominated by commercial buildings.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the first residents potentially moving in by 2028. The entire project is anticipated to take up to eight years to complete.
For the loyal patrons of Mercato Metropolitano, however, the countdown to closure has already begun, marking the end of a vibrant chapter in Borough’s community life.
