Key Points
- Hammersmith and Fulham Council has rejected the application to list Shepherd’s Bush Market as an asset of community value (ACV).
- The application was made by Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Market to protect the market amid approved redevelopment plans by developer Yoo Capital.
- The Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Market sought ACV status as a first step towards potential community ownership.
- Yoo Capital denies intentions to sell the market, stating the redevelopment aims to preserve its heritage and future.
- Concerns exist among Friends and supporters about gentrification and dilution of the market’s cultural significance.
- The Shepherd’s Bush Market Tenants’ Association claims the Friends are delaying vital regeneration and represent traders as well.
- The council refused the ACV because the application did not sufficiently demonstrate social interest and included land owned by Transport for London.
- Market tenant Atila Kirilov, speaking for the Friends, expressed deep disappointment with the council siding with “billionaire developers.”
- Campaign group Protect Our Places criticised the decision as disregard for the market’s economic, social and cultural roles.
- The Tenants’ Association labelled the ACV application as a public relations stunt to delay progress.
- Yoo Capital’s plans include new stalls, 40 council homes on Old Laundry Yard, a nine-storey commercial building, and cosmetic updates.
- Construction by Yoo Capital is expected to begin in early to mid-2026 with cooperation from market traders and residents, according to statements given to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Why was the community asset application for Shepherd’s Bush Market rejected?
As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, fulham/hammersmith/">hammersmith-and-fulham/">Hammersmith and Fulham Council refused the application to designate Shepherd’s Bush Market as an asset of community value. The council’s official statement cited that the application
“fails to demonstrate why the markets are considered to be ‘social interests’ and not standard retail services.”
Furthermore, they noted an error in the application as it included land that belongs to Transport for London, which complicated the listing process.
What motivated the Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Market to apply for ACV status?
According to a statement by Atila Kirilov, a market tenant representing the Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Market, the group sought ACV status earlier this year after major redevelopment plans by Yoo Capital were approved. Their aim was to take the initial step towards community ownership to “protect” the future of the market and prevent the site from being sold off. Kirilov expressed that the council’s decision to reject the application showed alignment with “billionaire developers,” causing deep disappointment among campaigners.
What are the concerns about the Yoo Capital redevelopment of the market?
The Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Market along with their supporters are apprehensive that Yoo Capital’s redevelopment will lead to gentrification of the area, undermining the market’s longstanding cultural significance. The campaign group Protect Our Places voiced that the council’s refusal of ACV status reflects “a clear disregard” for the economic, social and cultural roles the market plays within the local community.
How does the Shepherd’s Bush Market Tenants’ Association view the ACV application?
The Shepherd’s Bush Market Tenants’ Association, which claims to represent the majority of traders, strongly criticised the Friends’ ACV application. They described it as
“another PR stunt and attempt to delay and frustrate the process of moving forward”
with much-needed regeneration of the market area. Both the Tenants’ Association and Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Market claim to represent traders but hold differing views on the redevelopment.
What does Yoo Capital say about its redevelopment plans and intentions?
Yoo Capital, the developer behind the project, refuted any claims that it intends to sell the market. Their redevelopment plans include introducing new market stalls, building 40 council homes on the neighbouring Old Laundry Yard, constructing a nine-storey commercial building, and undertaking cosmetic improvements such as new entrance signs. A spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that construction is expected to start in early to mid-2026. They emphasised a collaborative approach:
“The revival of Shepherd’s Bush Market should be shaped by the market traders, their customers, the Shepherd’s Bush Market Tenants’ Association] and the residents.”
The group affirmed their mission to
“preserve the market’s heritage and secure its future as a much-loved London destination.”
What is the significance of the council’s rejection for the future of Shepherd’s Bush Market?
The rejection of the ACV status means that the community does not gain the additional protection that comes with the designation, which often includes a right to bid for the property if it is sold. The council’s stance may pave the way for Yoo Capital’s redevelopment plans to proceed without the constraints or delays the ACV listing would impose. This development is contentious, with divided opinions between community campaigners concerned about gentrification and some market traders eager for regeneration.
