London’s first underground farm to start trading in July

London’s first underground farm, Growing Underground, located in disused World War II tunnels beneath the Northern Line at Clapham will start trading for the first time in mid-July.

Located around 100ft below the city, and spread across 2.5ac of growing space, the farm will sell pea shoots, several varieties of radish, mustard, coriander, red amaranth, celery, parsley, and rocket in its first phase of development.

The farm is the brainchild of West Country entrepreneurs Richard Ballard and Steven Dring, in partnership with Michel Roux Junior, the Michelin-starred chef.

Growing Underground co-founder Richard Ballard said: "We’re delighted that our first shoots will be delivered to the surface in the next few weeks. After eighteen months of research, development, growing trials, and tribulations, we’re about to start supplying into the market."

Crops at the farm will be grown in a sealed clean-room environment that will be equipped with a bespoke ventilation system, along with advanced lighting and a sophisticated irrigation system that will make it possible to produce crops using very low energy.

The farm’s co-founder Steven Dring said: "Phase one represents a more than £750,000 investment in sustainable urban farming for London, and we’re delighted to be fulfilling our first orders within weeks."

The goal of the farm is to deliver fresh produce with minimal or no damage to the environment.

London mayor 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 £30bn a year."