‘Dagenham is worried’: London borough in limbo after Smithfield and Billingsgate move axed

The article discusses the uncertainty surrounding the Dagenham Dock area in east London, following the cancellation of a redevelopment project that would have relocated Smithfield meat market and Billingsgate fish market to the site. The planned redevelopment, which was to take place on a 17-hectare site formerly occupied by the Barking Reach power station, has now been halted by the City of London Corporation, the owners of the land. This decision has dealt a significant blow to the Dagenham area, which was already facing uncertainty over the future of the Ford site in the region. The article highlights the concern among local residents and businesses about the impact of this decision on the area, which was poised to become a hub of activity with the new wholesale food market. The cancellation of the project has left the Dagenham Dock area in limbo, as the community grapples with the implications of this change.