The Annexe buildings site in West Smithfield
20 Apr 2026
- What The City of London Corporation has formed a three-way partnership with developers General Projects and Sir Lloyd Dorfman’s Esselco Group
- Why Partnership to redevelop the Annexe buildings in West Smithfield into a modern food market, boutique hotel and event space
- What next The revamp plans will be implemented in two phases
The City of London Corporation has joined forces with developers General Projects and Sir Lloyd Dorfman’s Esselco Group, to revamp the Annexe buildings in West Smithfield.
Located near Farringdon and the new London Museum, the project will transform a site comprising a Victorian-era market, storage and engine structures into a modern food market, boutique hotel and event space.
Proposals for the site, drawn up by Heatherwick Studio, will be implemented in two phases. The site sits on the south-west side of Smithfield Market.
Phase one, to launch in early 2028, will deliver a new food market alongside other outdoor installations. The second phase, which is slated to complete by 2030, will deliver a new boutique hotel, new ground floor retail and F&B space, as well as a landscaped pocket park.
Chris Hayward, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: “Smithfield has always been London’s kitchen, a place of trade, energy and life for over a thousand years. The Annexe redevelopment honours that history while giving this remarkable corner of the Square Mile a bold new future.
“Alongside the new London Museum and the Barbican, it will help make Smithfield somewhere Londoners and visitors come back to again and again not for one particular reason, but because there is always something extraordinary to discover. This is destination city in action.”
Jacob Loftus, chief executive at General Projects, said: “We are honoured to have been selected as the new custodians of these iconic buildings. Working in partnership with the Corporation, London Museum and other key stakeholders, we look forward to delivering an exciting new future for these unique properties that will celebrate and embrace their history, while forging a new sustainable and creative new complex to deliver the next piece of London’s most exciting new cultural neighbourhood.”
Sir Lloyd Dorfman added: “As an ardent advocate for London, the City and the new cultural mile, I am excited to partner with General Projects in this rare and exciting opportunity to create an iconic destination for Smithfield and indeed London. I look forward to working in close collaboration with the City of London Corporation and give effect to its strategic vision for the area.”
Kauffmans acted for General Projects. CBRE advised the City Corporation.