London, 2015

Status: Existing

In London, a 2,5 acre area under Clapham, which was built as a bomb shelter during the World War II, is now being used as an urban underground farm to grow salad vegetables for the citizens of London, with perfect climate for farming as it is consistently 15 degrees. This means that it is a controlled environment and this is the optimal condition when growing these vegetables. 

The first phase of the farm, which includes a sophisticated lighting and irrigation system, is in the final stages of preparation for commercial supply. Phase one crops include pea shoots, several varieties of radish, mustard, coriander, Red Amaranth, celery, parsley and rocket. The crops are grown in a sealed clean-room environment with a specially designed ventilation system, advanced lighting and a sophisticated irrigation that enables the farm to produce crops at very low energy. The farm’s mission is to deliver fresh produce with zero effect on the environment and all energy is sourced from green suppliers.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “This is a fine example of the dynamic startups that are helping London lead the world in green business innovation. I want even more entrepreneurs to help create these brilliant concepts that are delivering thousands of jobs and boosting London's green economy to almost £30 billion a year. I wish Growing Underground every success.”

Underground farming is a fairly new concept, but it is an example on how unused urban spaces can contribute to a more sustainable environment.