City engages plans to enhance the Adderley Street Flower Market
The City of Cape Town’s Economic Growth Directorate has concluded the public participation process on the draft Trading Plan for the Trafalgar Place Flower Market on Adderley Street in the Cape Town CBD. The City thanks flower sellers, heritage bodies and the public for their extensive and thoughtful input, which is being considered to help refine the proposed trading plan to protect historical trader security and upgrade the market site. Read more below:
All registered traders and markets in Cape Town operate under the security of trading plans to ensure fairness and good trading conditions.
The Trafalgar Place Flower Market still operates informally without security for flower sellers. The time has come to upgrade the market site and ensure proper trading security, which gives historical flower sellers preference and protection. This is only possible by incorporating the site into the City’s lawful governance model, which all of Cape Town’s traders and markets benefit from under the Informal Trading By-Law and trading plans for each site.
‘The Public Participation Process has yielded useful insights for refining the proposed trading plan. Longer trading hours and increasing the number of trading stalls are examples of feedback from flower sellers which the City will work to incorporate into the plans. Our goal is to provide security of tenure for long‑standing flower sellers, ensuring they are given preference for permits. Importantly, we want to grow the success of trading by investing in major upgrades to promote a dignified and iconic market at this historical trading space.
‘It is important that spaces with such history are not simply left to age over time, without security for historical flower sellers. Trading plans are the key means by which the City can actively and lawfully support traders and markets to continue thriving well into the future,’ said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
By introducing permits with preference for historical flower sellers, the City will be able to lawfully ensure fair allocation of trading bays, prevent overcrowding and maintain pedestrian safety in this busy part of the city. Permits will be phased in with due care and the same permit fee that is applied to all other CBD traders will be implemented in this instance.
Upgrade plans to benefit traders and customers
The upgrade aims to provide flower sellers with a dignified, functional, and well‑designed trading environment that enhances both business operations and customer experience.
Key proposed improvements that will be unlocked by a lawful trading plan for this site include:
- 20 secure stalls, including lockable storage and an external display area. This number has been determined in the City’s consultation with the flower sellers, who advised that stalls should be increased to accommodate those who operate intermittently.
- A new lightweight canopy to replace the damaged roof and provide proper shelter and natural light.
- Level, accessible walkways and upgraded drainage.
- Improved lighting, visibility, and general safety.
- A formal loading and delivery area via Parliament Street.
- Better sanitation and waste management.
- Heritage storytelling elements, including updated storyboards, public art, and an improved setting for the Bishop Lightfoot Memorial.
Overall, the upgrades are intended to improve working conditions and honour the Trafalgar Place Flower Market as a proud part of Cape Town’s living heritage.
Going forward
Comments received during the public participation period are currently being considered in the refinement of the proposed trading plan.
Once ready, recommendations for a final trading plan, along with the feedback from the public, will be submitted for final approval by the City Council.
Should the trading plan be approved, the process of implementation will be phased in gradually and in consultation with the flower sellers.
Captions 1 and 2: The original architects’ conceptual designs of the proposed revamped flower seller market, in Adderley Street, in Cape Town CBD, which could be altered in the detailed design phase.
