Spitalfields Market (1992 — 1999)

"This is the sort of result that gladdens urban planners' hearts" — Financial Times

USM won a competition to develop and manage Spitalfields Market, where the recession in the early nineties had put future development plans for the site on hold. Interim use was needed and together USM and the Spitalfields Development Group created a joint partnership, Spitalfields Space Management. The interim uses occupied 240,000 square feet of market buildings and included market stalls and small retail units, craft workshops, artist studios, a gallery/exhibition space and events area. The central space also housed the Market Opera House, London’s first new purpose-built opera house for over a century, a Food Court with restaurants and sporting facilities including football pitches. USM even created a swimming pool out of a redundant basement — powered by a combined heat — power generator.

Old Spitalfields Market was transformed into a vibrant local venue with as much appeal to City office staff as the local population. The temporary scheme was so successful that USM’s contract was extended and the owners have now taken it over with complete commitment to continue the operation on USM’s model. During the period of the project external funding totalling over five times the initial set up costs was levered in, and over 1,000 new jobs created on site, which had lost 2,000 when the original market closed. The project won a BURA Best Practice Regeneration Award in 1996