Ridley Road Shopping Village to close following ‘ongoing antisocial behaviour’

Ridley Road Shopping Village is set to close temporarily in the coming weeks. Photograph: Johann Arens

Ridley Road Shopping Village will temporarily close next month following ongoing reports of “ongoing antisocial behaviour linked to the premises”.

According to representatives for Larochette Real Estate – the offshore private developer which owns the premises – traders were issued hand-delivered notices on Tuesday, 17 February. The indoor market in Dalston will be shut from 31 March, 2026.

It comes after the Metropolitan Police issued a Community Protection Warning to the building owner and management company in relation to the antisocial behaviour.

A note seen by the Citizen from Rainbow Properties, which represents Larochette, said the decision to close the shopping village came “following formal engagement with the Metropolitan Police”.

“The police have identified continued incidents of antisocial behaviour including knife crime, drug dealing and threats of violence that present risks to public safety and require decisive action to prevent further harm”, the note continued. “Despite a number of arrests, it has not been possible to stop this behaviour and therefore this closure is essential to ensure community safety”.

“Despite a series of management interventions and cooperation with partners including the community safety teams at the London Borough of Hackney, incidents have continued”.

According to Rainbow Properties, Larochette hopes the closure will allow for a full review of the premises’ security arrangements and management to “ensure the premises meet the standards required by the police and local authority”.

“The company is committed to working closely with the Metropolitan Police and relevant agencies to address the concerns raised.

“While many traders and visitors conduct themselves responsibly, the safety of the wider community, staff, and legitimate businesses must remain the overriding priority.

“This action is intended to support the implementation of stronger preventative measures and to ensure that, when the market reopens, it can do so in full alignment with police and community safety requirements”.

The note also said traders had been encouraged to contact Hackney’s Markets team to find other locations from which to run their business while the shopping village is shut.

The closure affects the ground floor. The artists’ studios on the first and second floors will be able to operate as normal.

In response to the news, Cllr Zoë Garbett for the Dalston ward told the Citizen: “I am outraged at this action from Larochette – not only are they proposing to evict traders, again, the way they have communicated this to traders and the public has been totally unacceptable.

“Larochette has misrepresented the police’s position who have not requested the closure of the building and Larochette has taken no responsibility, as the landlord and owner of the building, to deliver the long overdue redevelopment and for how they have mistreated traders. Historically, Larocehtte have left traders in sub-standard conditions for ages. At times they haven’t had proper facilities.

Larochette purchased the shopping village for £6.5million in 2016. In July 2024, it put a proposal to the council which, if successful, would have resulted in the building of seven apartments on the building’s second floor. The proposal which was rejected in October of that year.

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “We found out about La Rochette Real Estate’s decision to close Ridley Road Shopping Village from 31 March on Tuesday afternoon (17 February). This is a decision taken by the landlord.

“We recognise the impact this decision will have on traders in Ridley Road Shopping Village, and we are working to provide advice and support where possible. The council remains committed to securing a sustainable and safe future for the indoor market space, subject to appropriate legal and commercial safeguards.

“The council takes public safety extremely seriously and works closely with the Metropolitan Police and community safety partners to address issues of crime and antisocial behaviour across the borough”.

Save Ridley Road member Danny Hayward said: “This is a complete re-run of the brutal and unlawful attempted evictions in 2018. The traders in Ridley Road have fought for years to keep their businesses going in the most challenging circumstances.

“They are a vital community, a centre for Black business and culture in Hackney. They deserve thanks and support. Instead they’re being treated like a nuisance by a landlord that has no interest in the social fabric of the area.

“Successful, community-led regeneration is possible with the will and imagination, as we see from Seven Sisters Indoor Market and across London. Larochette have proved incapable of behaving with legal or social responsibility to their tenants. Hackney Council needs to step up, intervene and get the 2022 agreement back on track and Mayor Woodley should be
taking personal responsibility”.

Cllr Grace Adebayo (Labour) told the Citizen: “It is to be regretted that Larochelle, the landlord of the Ridley Road Shopping Village, has shut the ground floor which will affect the livelihood of the traders there.

“I look forward to seeing the centre re-open soon and providing a home for traders. I know that the council remains committed to securing a sustainable and safe future for the indoor market space, subject to appropriate legal and commercial safeguards.

“I’m proud of Ridley Road market – it’s a thriving and award-winning market serving the needs of all local people and across London”.

A Met spokesperson said: “On Friday, 6 February, police and Hackney Council issued a joint Community Protection Warning to the building owner and management company of the Indoor Market on Ridley Road.

“This follows concerns raised regarding drug use, drug supply, a series of violent offences and anti-social behaviour.

“The basis of the warning was to request improved regulation of the business units contributing to crime and antisocial behaviour.

“On Tuesday, 17 February, police were informed that the building owner had taken steps in line with police and council advice to close a number of units within Ridley Road Indoor Market to address crime and antisocial behaviour concerns.

“They have also taken the separate decision to close the entire Indoor Market from 31 March. This is an independent decision made by the building owner and management. Police remain committed to working constructively with them and partners to improve safety in the area”.

Larochette Real Estate said in a statement: “The landlord met this week with the local authority, including the mayor, representatives of the affected businesses, and Save Ridley Road.

“All parties confirmed they share the same long‑term vision for the site: to reopen it as a vibrant, well‑managed indoor market that is free from the long‑standing issues of anti‑social behaviour. The discussion focused on the best path to achieve that goal.

“The affected businesses are not being evicted. Their tenancies are coming to an end and will not be renewed as the landlord has decided to close the market at the end of March to draw a clear line under historic challenges.

“Businesses who have not been involved in anti‑social behaviour and who are not in significant rent arrears will be offered temporary accommodation within the building or outdoor pitches depending on their needs until the market reopens.

“A new website is being prepared to accept applications from businesses who wish to be part of the market when it reopens, marking the start of a fresh chapter for the site and the community it serves”.

Note: this article was amended at 9.36am on Friday, 20 March, to include a statement by Larochette Real Estate.