Retrofitting for food security : the case of urban food quarters

Abstract

This paper and presentation focus on recent research in London on the renewal of food centred space around revived markets. These spaces combine elements of traditional urbanism and new forms of socio-spatial practice that together support increased urban food security. The paper sets out the place-shaping context in food terms, and explores findings from the case study research process – comprising morphological investigation, urban design analysis, observations and semi-structured interviews. It considers the food security implications of the decline and rise of these urban food quarters and policy prescriptions for food ‘retrofitting’ to augment food resilience and security in future.