Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Licensing Committee has approved significant updates to its market and street trading license policy, aiming to foster a more professional, vibrant, and sustainable market environment. The new policy, which will be presented to the full council for adoption, includes revised conditions for street trading licenses and a broader list of permissible commodities, alongside concrete measures to improve air quality and reduce waste.
The committee met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to discuss the proposed changes, which aim to attract and retain traders, address economic challenges, and showcase the broader value of markets within the community. The policy also emphasizes environmental sustainability, with provisions for improving air quality and minimizing waste and single-use plastics.
Richard, Executive Director for Housing and Neighbourhoods, presented the policy, highlighting a nine-week consultation that received 54 responses from residents, shoppers, and traders. Key themes from the consultation included a call for clear visual standards for stalls, additional support for traders to understand rule changes, and consistent enforcement. Concerns were also raised regarding health and safety, waste management, accessibility, and pedestrian safety.
Revised Commodity List and Restrictions
The updated Regulation of Commodities for Street Trading Licences 2026
offers greater flexibility for traders. For instance, under previous regulations, traders selling clothing could only select up to three items from a single category. The new policy introduces a general clothing category encompassing women's, men's, and children's wear, allowing for more diverse offerings. It also provides clearer guidelines for selling additional items from other categories.
However, certain items remain banned and will not be permitted on market stalls. These include: cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and related items; medicines, drugs and other prescribed substances; drug-related goods and paraphernalia; weapons/firearms (including replicas) and ammunition; lottery tickets, raffles, tombola and other games of chance; new and used motor vehicles (unless part of a forecourt licence); second-hand gas and electrical appliances; pets and livestock; containers of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG); explosives including shop goods (fireworks); petroleum products including petroleum mixtures or solvents; goods of an inflammable, corrosive or otherwise dangerous nature; sex articles; and any other goods deemed unsuitable by the Council. The Council reserves the right to review this commodity list.
Environmental Sustainability Measures
The policy includes specific provisions for improving air quality and minimizing the impact of waste and single-use plastics.
All market traders are expected to adopt environmentally friendly practices where practical, including the use of electric supply points where available. Applications from traders wishing to use diesel or petrol generators will not be accepted. Furthermore, licence holders must comply with existing laws banning single-use plastics or switch to reusable, biodegradable options. The Council also commits to minimising market waste through reduction, recycling, reuse, and recovery whenever feasible.
Updated Licence Conditions and Economic Support
The updated Prescribed Standard Conditions for Street Trading Licences 2026
are more detailed, structured into 33 sections with annexes for site-specific conditions. Key changes include updated wording on licence requirements, damage and insurance, non-use of pitches, and surrender of licences. Trader conduct, including harassment, cooperation with officers, and issues related to criminal records, bribery, fraud, and drug/alcohol misuse, has also been clarified. Provisions for the transfer of stalls and succession, as well as waste management and Duty of Care requirements, have been updated. The enforcement protocol has been detailed, outlining warnings, fixed penalty notices, seizure of goods, and licence suspension or revocation procedures. Bespoke conditions have also been added specifically for shop front trading licences.
Economically, the council aims to support and promote business activity by providing transparency and integrity when dealing with street trading matters.
The policy seeks to ensure consistency in decision-making to promote fair trade, support small businesses in the borough, and help create thriving, attractive, and welcoming town centres.
The policy aims to designate specific streets for regulated street trading activities, including areas such as North End Road Market, Shepherd's Bush Town Centre, White City Wood Lane, Hammersmith Town Centre, and Sardinia High Street.
More information can be found in the public reports pack for the Licensing Committee meeting on June 2, 2026.
