London could become home to a new mushroom farm capable of growing three quarters of a ton every month using waste materials such as coffee grounds.
Eco start-up Article No. 25 wants to set up the farm in the basement of a block of Seventies council flats in Gospel Oak, and Camden council is considering a planning application.
The mushrooms would grow on a form of compost made from waste materials including coffee grounds and newspapers mixed with straw.
Architect Josh Carver, of CarverHaggard, which drew up the plans, said: “By making use of leftover urban spaces, as well as materials that would otherwise go to waste, this type of food production is great for the environment and eases the pressure on cities to source food from further afield.
“Mushrooms are particularly suited to growing in London as they do not require a vast amount of sunlight, and they grow rapidly, meaning that they don’t require a lot of space.”
The farm would be capable of producing 750kg of oyster and shitake mushrooms each month, which would be sold at local markets and grocers, and to nearby restaurants.
Staff would also cycle to restaurants to pick up their coffee grounds, and use bikes to deliver produce.
Article No. 25 plans to set up its farm at Ludham, a block on the Lismore Circus Estate.
Designed as garages, the space is empty. However, not all of locals support the plans. Mushroom spores are linked to asthma which means the farm will have to be carefully sealed. Carver has promised “exceptional levels of cleanliness” to avoid the risk of vermin.
In Exeter, charity GroCycle grows oyster mushrooms at a disused office building in the city centre.
