Willesden Market will be temporarily moved to Neasden as plans to development its current home in Church Road become a step closer.

Brent & Kilburn Times: The market will be temporarily located to Neasden Shopping Centre (Pic: google)The market will be temporarily located to Neasden Shopping Centre (Pic: google) (Image: Archant)

The site in Church End, which is also used as a car park, will be transformed into 34 ‘high quality’ homes and a brand new market square after years of uncertainty about its future.

Brent Council hope the development will pump much-needed economy into Church End which is one of the town hall’s priority growth areas.

The redevelopment plans were granted planning permission back in 2013 but last week the council’s cabinet gave it the go ahead.

The council plan to speak to traders at the market to discuss the relocation.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Willesden Market traders in 2011 (L-R) Adnan Ali, Nadee Hashmat, Marc Croft, Imran Choudry, Gary Saunders, Cathy Coath, Hamid Ghaleb (Pic: Jonathan Goldberg)Willesden Market traders in 2011 (L-R) Adnan Ali, Nadee Hashmat, Marc Croft, Imran Choudry, Gary Saunders, Cathy Coath, Hamid Ghaleb (Pic: Jonathan Goldberg) (Image: Jonathan Goldberg 07958 229 037)

Cllr Margaret McLennan, Brent Council’s lead member for housing and development, said: “These plans have been on the table for a while now so I am happy that we can get going with actually developing the site.

“What we are aiming to achieve is a revitalised market square, set in an attractive and appealing area that will be a focal point and source of pride for market traders and local residents.

“We will be working closely with the market traders though out and will manage the transition as best we can to minimise disruption.”

In 2006, the Times fought a successful battle to save the 33-year-old market from closure after the owners of its previous site in a pub car park in Church Road were given planning permission to build flats.

The council initially refused to help the traders but following a campaign led by the Times it was relocated to its current home in 2007.

Gary Saunders, the market’s manager, told the Times: “While we are aware of the plan to develop the site and temporarily relocate to Neasden this has only been discussed informally.

“If there is any chance of the transition being successful we will need an adequate handover period to allow us to plan in detail and inform the public.

“The market continues to be a vital part of the local retail offer and would be missed by many people if it were to close.”