• Historic market and neighbouring Old Laundry Yard to be transformed into incubator ‘ecosystem’ supporting existing traders, a ‘high street academy’, life sciences, co-working spaces and 40 new affordable homes
• New entrances, canopy and stalls in stunning refurbishment of pre-First World War site
• Majority owners Yoo Capital commit to supporting existing traders and ensuring that they can continue to trade in revitalised Market
• Investment is major shot in arm for local area as businesses and customers struggle with cost-of-living crisis
• Public consultation to take place on 18 and 19 October between 2pm and 7.30pm at 48 Goldhawk Road

Yoo Capital, the majority owner of Shepherd’s Bush Market since September 2020, has unveiled proposals for major investment in the Market and to develop land on the adjacent Old Laundry Yard site.

The plans follow two years of conversations with Shepherd’s Bush Market traders to understand their businesses and concerns, as well as the needs of the Market as a whole and its customers.

Yoo Capital has now secured the long-term positions of the Market traders by offering financial support during construction, business support and training, as well as new 10-year leases.

The planned investment gives the area a major shot in the arm as businesses continue to work to recover lost ground from the pandemic amid a cost-of-living crisis.

The proposals seek to reimagine the Market as though it had continual investment for the last 20 years and include new entrances, a new canopy and road surfaces as well as new stalls and, grants for investment into shops and units in railway arches.

Lloyd Lee, Managing Partner, Yoo Capital, said: “Shepherd’s Bush Market has a unique vibrancy and culture. As a firm, we believe in celebrating community assets across London.  We made a commitment to Shepherd’s Bush Market’s traders to invest in the Market in a way that honours and retains its much-loved sense of community and diversity.” 

 Yoo Capital has brought in new market managers, REimagine City, to revitalise the experience of the market for existing traders and the local community by supporting independent retail and grassroots culture. REimagine will be setting up a High Street Academy in early 2023 and have transformed a vacant arch into a training venue which showcases prototype stalls and displays that will become the ‘Market of the Future’.

Chris Smith, Market Director, REimagine, said: “With our High Street Academy, there is an opportunity to create something unique for London. Traditional retail has struggled post-pandemic and we want to support a new generation of innovative retailers and hospitality businesses to grow organically. The Academy space aims to teach real world skills and lower the barriers for individuals with creative ideas to try out new concepts.  Coupled with the potential for collaboration between businesses in the co-working and life sciences spaces on site will make this space special and we are excited to see the type of partnerships it generates.”

The life sciences incubator on the Old Laundry Yard site will be the largest of its kind in London and will support start-ups and SMEs in science, technology and engineering. The incubator will be operated by Imperial College London, who are based in nearby White City.

John Anderson, Imperial College London’s Director of Financial Strategy, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Yoo Capital to open a deep tech incubator space in Shepherd’s Bush. There is a great demand for purpose-built lab within genuine ecosystems like those now established in the White City Innovation District.  This will provide critical infrastructure for start-up and scale up enterprises emerging from Imperial College London, LBHF and across the Capital.”