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Negotiations to acquire the lease for the disused ‘Latin Village’ market space in Seven Sisters have recently made promising progress, offering renewed hope to local traders and community groups.
The Seven Sisters Indoor Market, located at Wards Corner next to the Tube station, has been home to traders from Latin, Caribbean, and African backgrounds since 1985. However, the market has faced ongoing threats of demolition by developers seeking to rebuild the site for residential purposes.
In response, the Wards Corner Community Plan, a community benefit society established last year, has engaged in discussions with Places for London, Transport for London’s (TfL) property branch, to secure the market’s lease and begin revitalisation efforts.
Santiago Cordoso, general manager of the community plan, highlighted their success in halting developer Grainger’s plans to construct flats in 2021. He stated, “We are trying to prove there are different ways of achieving things because this is not motivated by profit.”
The revitalisation plans include affordable rents for traders, budget-friendly offices, spaces for community activities, reading groups, childcare facilities, restaurants, and more. While financial sustainability is necessary, Santiago emphasised that the goal is not profit-driven but about reshaping the mindset around community development.
The group has submitted an expression of interest to TfL and, as the sole bidders, find themselves in a favourable position. However, challenges remain. Elena Escalante, communities and communications manager, noted the discovery of asbestos and structural issues in the building, which TfL identified during extensive surveys since its closure in 2021.
Despite these obstacles, the community group remains optimistic. TfL has indicated a willingness to establish a more formal partnership with the group, the council, and an independent advisory group to expedite the process of restoring the building for community use.
With the market having been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, plans for a temporary market have faced significant delays. Nonetheless, the group is determined to push forward. Elena appealed for volunteers and traders to join their efforts, and the group is set to host a ‘summer fiesta’ on August 28 at The Post Bar on Tottenham High Road to bring the community together and celebrate their progress.
Haringey Council’s deputy leader, Sarah Williams, expressed support for the group’s efforts and the reinstatement of traders at Wards Corner.
