The Museum of London’s move to a derelict part of Smithfield market is one step closer to becoming reality after the announcement that six architectural firms will compete to design the £150million project.

The museum, currently based in London Wall, near the Barbican, is planning to move to the western end of the General Market. This part of the site has stood derelict since 1996 and has a massive basement.

Alec Forshaw, who retired from his job as a conservation officer at Islington Council in 2007, and has been involved in shaping development in Smithfield for 40 years, said the announcement represented “very promising progress”.

“I think it [the move] will be terrific for the Smithfield area,” he said.

“The museum will have a bigger site and a better presence, but the spin-off of them being right by Farringdon station will be tremendous for the area. It will help to make the area a cultural hub which is what it should be, rather than just a soulless area of offices.”

Mr Forshaw, whose latest book, Smithfield: Past, Present and Future, was released last year, added: “The market has a colossal basement – there’s actually more space below ground than above it, which is fantastic because museums don’t need a lot of natural daylight. At the moment they have only a tiny amount of their collection on show at any one time, so it will really open up more opportunities.

“There is some exciting potential for access from the below-ground station and it will be interesting to see how they [the architects] will tackle that.”

The design competition is funded by the Mayor of London through a £200,000 grant. The shortlisted practices will be briefed and asked to produce design concepts that will be displayed in an exhibition at the Museum of London in the summer.

A winner will be selected by a jury of people from the worlds of the arts, media, property, architecture and business, chaired by TV presenter Evan Davis, who is a governor at the museum.

Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, said: “It’s been an intriguing process so far – the range of creative architectural practices who submitted is phenomenal.

“The shortlist’s mix promises a fascinating next stage when the finalists’ concept designs go on display at the Museum of London this summer. I look forward to hearing the views of Londoners in the run-up to the jury reviewing the designs and choosing the winner.”

• Keywords
  MUSEUMS, MEAT MARKETS
• Geographical keyword
  FARRINGDON ROAD, WEST SMITHFIELD
• Persons keyword
  Museum of London, Smithfield Market