'Thriving' Greenwich market saved from redevelopment

Plans to demolish historic Greenwich Market have been unexpectedly thrown out by councillors.

Greenwich's planning board voted unanimously to reject a scheme which would have seen the Victorian market, at the heart of the Greenwich World Heritage Site, torn down.

It was to be replaced by a contemporary shopping precinct, a modern market and a 104-room hotel. The refusal comes despite planning officers recommending approval of the scheme.

Council leader, Labour's Chris Roberts, a member of the planning board, said: "I simply don't believe the design is good enough for the World Heritage Site. I am not convinced it would create a place I would want to spend time in."

The council's cabinet member for regeneration, Peter Brooks, also a board member, said he had "grave concerns" about the scheme.

Dermot Poston, a Tory councillor, said: "Those shops might be anywhere. In Brazil or Canada or Manchester - not Greenwich."

Other councillors said the proposed hotel was too big and criticised the developer, Greenwich Hospital, for not providing more detailed drawings of how it would loom over the town centre's listed buildings.

Martin Sands, director of Greenwich Hospital, said the scheme would improve shopping, "regenerate" the town, and "retain the character of the market" with independent traders, rather than chains.

But Hospital officials would not guarantee that all current traders would be allowed back into the development at affordable rents.

Opponents in the audience of about 100 people said the scheme, by architects Hopkins, would turn part of Greenwich into a smaller Bluewater. They insisted the site, one of London's major craft markets, was thriving. The local ward councillor, Maureen O'Mara, added: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The £27 million redevelopment was backed by the Greenwich Society and local MP Nick Raynsford but almost 900 people wrote letters of objection to the council.

Market trader Kate Jaconello said fellow traders felt a "huge, huge sense of relief" about the decision. "We can now get on with running our businesses without worrying about our future," she added.

Mr Sands refused to comment as he left last night's meeting.