Proposals to redevelop Greenwich Market will “rip the heart ouf of Greenwich”, a local councillor told an independent public inquiry into the market’s fate today.
Cllr Maureen O’Mara (Labour, Greenwich West) said that the market is a “well loved part of London” and that it would be a “disgrace to allow it to be destroyed”.
The councillor has served on the Greenwich Area Planning Committee since 1998 and was the Chair of the Borough Wide Planning Board between 2002. She explained that she had originally been involved in the Key Stakeholder Group that was discussing plans for the redevelopment but that she pulled out when she saw the scope of their plans.
She said that the Market owners, Greenwich Hospital, have never shown “any understanding or interest in the impact of their proposals on this sensitive location”.
Cllr O’Mara ended her comments to the inquiry, which started on Tuesday and is now in its third day, by requesting that the Secretary of State for Local Government, who has the final say, reject the appeal.
The afternoon’s session was mostly taken up by questioning of Greenwich Council’s Chief Planning Officer, Fred Brown.
Mr Brown acknowledged that the Greenwich Market site “needs investment” and conceded that the development had the “potential” to bring benefits, such as additional employment, but said there was a “question mark” over whether the changes would benefit residents and traders.
He said that the proposed boutique hotel “would not fill a gap” as there were other high quality hotels in Greenwich, specifically citing the Devonport Hotel and the Novotel, and more hotels were already planned.
He was questioned by Greenwich Hospital’s QC, Neil King, about the support for the scheme from local MP Nick Raynsford, the Greenwich Society, the University of Greenwich and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites).
When asked about Nick Raynsford’s support for the scheme, Mr Brown commented that “Mr Raynsford is not an architect, he’s not an urban planner so is not qualified to make those judgements”.
Mr King QC seized on that and asked Mr Brown if indeed he was a qualified architect or urban planner either.
“No”, replied Mr Brown, although he did point out his experience of over twenty years in managing planning departments.
The inquiry continues on Friday and from Tuesday to Friday next week.
The problem seems to be the difference between “needs investment” and the destruction of the market with the the gross overdevelopment of this very sensitive site. Surely Greenwich ‘Hospital’ cannot now justify another hotel when plans for further hotels have just been announced? What will the tourists see? A new shopping mall with naff ‘ecological’ buildings looming over the central village. Sepia pictures of the original market in their hotel lobbies? Let the dreadful development around the DLR be an awful warning of how cheap and nasty oversize buildings can spoil an area. Egos will be bruised but I hope GH will withdraw and modify these proposals to give the market and the island site what the thousands of people who visit obviously want: A refurbished historic market for traders with an expanded area for the excellent food stalls that are such a success
There are many things that I deplore about Greenwich council, but on the issue of the market I have to say they have got things absolutely right. I applaud their firm and articulate oppostion to Greenwich Hospital’s crude and ugly plans for this well-loved corner of London. But what a pity it is to see the Greenwich Society’s stance cited by backers of GH’s insensitive plans. Truly, the Greenwich Society has let the community down on this. It is absolutely pitiful to see their latest newsletter, which fumes about minor matters such as shop signs, while they wholeheartedly back the wrecking of our historic town centre. Megad is right. It is time for Greenwich Hospital to withdraw and develop a less intrusive and more sensitive plan, with conservation at its core.