Coming soon to Camden Town? The wharf of little independent shops

Published: 16 September, 2010
by DAN CARRIER

CAMDEN Town’s loss of traditional shops during its shift to a tourist destination is set to be reversed, according to the managing director of the company which manages Camden Markets. 

Mark Alper, who heads Stanley Sidings, has told the New Journal that his company’s redevelopment plans for land along Castlehaven Road and the canalside market will include small shops let at affordable rents.

The aim is to encourage the return of shops that people living in the area used to frequent before Camden Town became a tourist hotspot. 

He said: “This development is an opportunity to respond to local needs, and it has not always been the case. We want independent high street shops. Butchers, cafés, these kinds of businesses.”

He added that the land along Castlehaven Road could have room for a GP surgery.

The plans, yet to be finalised, provisionally include a weekend farmers’ market, eco-friendly social housing, private homes, three new open spaces and independent workshops.

However, Mr Alper also revealed that a new two-tier market next to the canal is planned, with a restaurant on top. 

He dismissed claims by some traders that the market has reached saturation point. Many traders have told the New Journal that, with the recent opening of a larger Stables Market, less cash is being taken as visitor numbers have not increased sufficiently, meaning there are more stalls for the same number of shoppers.

Mr Alper claimed that the stalls have a waiting list of “several thousand” and that within a day of re-opening the canalside market after the devastating fire of 2008 they had let all the available stalls.

He said: “We have a vast waiting list for stalls. If we had reached saturation, this would not be the case. There will always be some tenants who are not happy but we always try to work with them. And we receive between 40 and 50 inquiries for stalls every week.”

Mr Alper vowed that the new market would withstand any attempts by high street stores to cash in on Camden Town’s trendy reputation. He said he was aware of the legacy the early markets have left as a mecca of alternative shops.

“We need to ensure that people find things that they could only find here,” he said. 

“There are always rumours of high street shops coming in, but we work very closely with traders, and help them if they struggle. We have to make sure the mix is right.”

A planning application for the site is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

Mr Alper wants to see the garages and mechanics workshops that snake alongside the railway viaduct replaced with something similar. 

“We want a mix of light, artisan workshops and more heavy industrial uses there,” he added. “We hope this provides jobs for people living in the area.”

Camden Town Lib Dem councillor Matthew Saunders said that the jury was still out on whether the scheme would bring real benefits to the area. 

He added: “There is still some way to go before residents feel they have a development that’s going to make the area better.”