Environmental campaigners are asking Hackney Council to take action against a housing development plan they say presents a threat to the green space of Hackney Marshes.

The development plan was introduced last year by Waltham Forest Council to turn the soon-to-be vacated land of New Spitalfields Market, which is due to be relocated, into a residential and commercial space to provide new homes and employment.

The development is on the eastern side of the River Lea which separates it from the Marshes and other green spaces and is the boundary between the two boroughs.

The City of London Corporation plans to move the wholesale market, which sells fruit and vegetables, into a new site at Dagenham, alongside Smithfield meat market, currently still in Smithfield on the edge of the City and Billingsgate fish market, which is at Canary Wharf, onto a new site at Dagenham Dock. However, no definite date has been set for the move. New Spitalfields has been at Leyton since 1991, when it moved from its original home in the East End.

The Marshes on the western bank of the Lea, are one of the largest green spaces in London, with 336.1 acres of protected commons.

Save Lea Marshes (SLM), who have been protecting marshes in Hackney, Leyton and Walthamstow told Eastlondonlines that the development of housing and commerce will devastate Hackney Marshes, the already vulnerable green space on the eastern boundary of the borough.

Julian Cheyne, a campaigner for SLM, told ELL: “We are concerned that Hackney doesn’t seem to be taking this very seriously,”

Cheyne said: “Hackney will… pay all the [environmental] costs. This would be harmful to the marshes, both because of the increased population pressure and the impact of these blocks of flats right next door to the marshes… Also, it’s on the floodplain. The flood relief channel is meant to decongest the River Lea and the Valley… We will no doubt have extreme flash flooding in the future, so this is a very badly planned development. ”

“Waltham Forest will get all of the benefits …of the views and the location… Developers will be able to advertise views over the marshes in order to sell flats,” he added.

“Introducing a population of somewhere around 6,000 or more people through an area which is right next door to Hackney marshes will have a massive impact on the green space of the Hackney marshes and River Lea.” he claimed.

Cheyne said the group has sent a letter to Hackney Council but had not received any reply: “We don’t know what action Hackney is taking but we’re not aware of any response. We don’t think it is taking it seriously.”

He was keen to point out the development which has not damaged the precious green space in the area, which should act as an example for future developments: “That is the New Spitalfields Market, which does not have any negative impacts or very limited negative impacts. Green spaces are very valuable these days. It is… really important for people’s welfare and well-being for their health.”

A Public Space Protection Order came into effect November 22 to crack down on antisocial behaviour, including public drinking, drug taking and unlicensed music on Hackney Marshes, which helps protect the environment.

Hackney Council did not respond to requests for comment.