Overview:
Working in partnership with Hackney Council, Marlborough Highways delivered a £1.2 million public realm improvements scheme at Ridley Road Market in the heart of Dalston in the London Borough of Hackney. The historic market now offers a more inviting and bustling community space for visitors and traders, thanks to the use of quality materials, improved drainage, and attractive new street furniture. The scheme was carefully managed, ensuring that there was minimum disruption to the public and local businesses.
2024 Highways Awards
The Ridley Road Market improvements scheme was shortlisted in the Active Travel and Street Design categories at the 2024 Highways Awards.
The Challenge
Ridley Road is situated in the heart of Dalston in the London Borough of Hackney and is home to a historic market, which has been in existence since the late Nineteenth Century. Today, Ridley Road Market is one of the most vibrant in the Capital and plays host to approximately 150 stalls offering a diverse range of quality goods and a unique combination of international flavours. Hackney Council had identified the space as one which needed revitalisation, commissioning Marlborough to deliver an ambitious renovation project, which began in February 2022. The scheme needed to transform the market into a safe, attractive and modern space, with the ultimate aim of attracting more footfall.
The Solution
The year-long scheme included surfacing works with the use of high-end granite paving, as well as the installation of new ground sockets for stalls, attractive new street furniture and improved market signage. To reduce flood risk, the existing drainage system was enhanced and complimented by the introduction of a sustainable drainage system through the planting of strategically placed foliage. The project was managed in phases, including early morning and night works, to avoid disruption to the public and to local businesses, with normal market trading hours remaining in place throughout. To ensure the smooth delivery of the scheme, Marlborough and the Council liaised with stallholders, local shop owners and hospitality providers at every stage of the works. The rejuvenated Ridley Road Market now offers a more pleasant and welcoming environment for both traders and visitors, creating an inviting and bustling hub for the diverse mix of cultures that call Dalston home.
Fact File
Client: Hackney Council
Date: February 2022 – March 2023
Duration: 13 months
Value: £1.2m
Project
- Removal and safe disposal of existing asphalt
- Resurfacing works
- Creation of an attractive paved area with the use of high-quality granite material
- New sustainable drainage measures to reduce flood risk through planting
- Placement of attractive new tree grilles
- Installation of bollards and new market signage
- Fitting of new ground sockets for 8x2m market stalls
- Addition of street furniture
Team
- 1 full time Project Manager
- 1 Quantity Surveyor
- 2 Supervisors
- 12 Marlborough Operatives across all trades
Client savings
- The narrow works space created a number of challenges, but pedestrian access and access to all local businesses remained throughout.
- The project was completed to budget, despite the challenges to the works posed by high levels of inflation in 2022.
Quote from client
“The scheme is great, it’s exactly what Ridley Road needed, the space now feels safe and welcoming, and the traders are doing good business, so you couldn’t ask for more! The work Marlborough has done is brilliant, schedules ran to time and any problems were quickly resolved; it’s a perfect working relationship.”
Councillor Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council
Ridley Road Open Day
On Friday 17 March 2023, the Ridley Road Market works were officially unveiled at a ribbon cutting and walkabout event, which was hosted by Marlborough and Hackney Council. Despite the wet weather, spirits remained high, with a fantastic atmosphere at the much-loved marketplace. Marlborough’s team hosted a stand throughout the day, where they gave away branded souvenirs and were on hand to answer questions about the scheme and the company’s wider programme of works across the London Borough of Hackney.
“One of the things I value most is their very collaborative and transparent team culture. It makes a big difference to have a contractor that wants to work closely with us and is supportive and responsive. With Marlborough, I get a team who are attentive, work collaboratively and honestly with me and don’t lose focus on delivering first class communications and compliance.”
“From the design stage, Marlborough has been fundamental in delivering the Broad Lane Square improvements scheme. During the works, not only did the team manage to keep to the programme, but they went the extra mile to ensure attention to detail and came up with innovative solutions to address issues encountered on site. My thanks on behalf of Haringey goes out to Marlborough for their dedication to deliver.”
“Working alongside our Term Service Contractor Marlborough Highways, we successfully completed renovations to the Crowstone Footbridge. The designs were provided by Marlborough, and the work was unique. The scheme was completed to budget and ahead of its programme duration.”
“I would like to thank you and your team for your efforts, the Marlborough crews were professional, courteous, and hard working all day and ensured the event went without a hitch. You and the team were a credit to the company, demonstrating commitment and support to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.”
“I just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been to work with Marlborough Highways over the last six months. The quality of work is superb, and there has been some excellent collaboration between Milestone and Marlborough to complete, what at times, has been quite a challenging scheme. I hope to work with Marlborough on another project in the near future.”
“Marlborough worked with us in constructing a 1.3km cycle track. There were a number of technical difficulties to overcome, and their gifted foreman worked to propose some innovative solutions to the challenges we faced. The result is a facility that the locals are proud of, providing walkers and cyclists with alternative access to the hospital and nearby school. The scheme was a lot of hard work, but well worth it.”
“Marlborough attracts people who take care and have pride in their work. Several gangs of Operatives worked tirelessly for six months to reconstruct drainage networks, lay more than 3km of high quality bespoke granite kerbs and granite channels blocks to ensure positive drainage. The technical compliance, attention to detail and level of quality finish along the entire carriageway was exceptional”.
“We saw huge benefits in appointing Marlborough as our full service contractor and we’re impressed – they’ve delivered consistent high quality service and superior quality control across every project. Marlborough, provide us with a ‘one-stop’ shop solution – we get the same quality of service and better control across all aspects of the project.”
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