Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what options other than demolition and rebuilding her Department considered for the redevelopment of the car park in New Covent Garden Market; and what the estimated cost was of each such option.

It is not intended to demolish and rebuild the existing multi-storey car park at New Covent Garden Market. The existing car park has been assessed by structural engineers from both the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) and by CGMA’s Private Development Partner who consider the structure to be in a satisfactory condition to be retained and refurbished rather than demolished and rebuilt.

The option to demolish and rebuild was considered as was extension of the existing car park. Neither of these options was considered cost effective.

The contracts to undertake the work will be let by the Private Development Partner, VSM (NCGM) Limited. Some of these contracts have yet to be finalised and as such cost information generated in assessing the options is commercially confidential and cannot be disclosed at this time.