Greenwich hospital trying to move the covered market to the grounds of the naval college temporarily while they rebuild the old market and turn it into "bluewater".
lot of work going on in greenwich, not all good. And the foot tunnel looks set to be closed for ayear while they redevelop it... so i wont be able to walk to the Gun (when i go).
greenwich market 
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It will be a sanitised version of a market that currently has character. And the 'boutique' hotel that is being built around it is going to cause total havoc with the traffic congestion when guests arrive.
Once again, money talks - it's a f*kng disgrace!
I have not seen or heard anything about the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Are you sure it is not just a case of shutting the lifts for a few months for maintenance?
foot tunnel
But will this ferry be free!
This is my favorite site for news and discussions about Greenwich.
Greenwich Phantom
It was goign to be a big retail and housing development but the developers cant get the financial backing in the current climate.
There was talk of Greenwich uni building a school of architecture there though.
The 'proper' market is going to be hugely developed with lots of new shops being built.
watch them f##k it all up though.
A 2006 plan to close the market and redevelop the site with flats and shops was defeated by the planning committee. So now it wants to 'revitalise' the market and cram in a 4 storey boutique hotel into the island between the Naval Hospital and Hawksmoor parish church.
The plain 1950's buildings, with shops, that line the market square will be rebuilt higher to accommodate restaurants and bars. The existing roof is to be replaced with a canopied structure supported on a 'forest' of columns. The cobbles are to be replaced with granite steps. The Victorian storage spaces next to the Durnford Street approach willl give way to the Hotel (100 rooms) squeezed into a semi-circular site.
The market will survive but it will be more like a new shopping centre and I bet your bottom dollar that the existing businesses won't be able to afford to stay.
Planning permission is hoped to be received next month so the Hotel can open in time for the 2012 Olympics - as Greenwich Park will be commandeered for the equestrian events.
Oh right B I am very very surprised....not too sure about this....I like abit of tradition to tell you the truth.....and the old covered fruit and veg market surely has a preservation order on it?
Christ almighty what a dramatic and risky project......to say nothing of the huge costs involved and loss of earnings for existing businesses.
Can see a mountain of protests and battles going on for yonks before this is given the green light.... if indeed it ever is.
Why don't they develop the other market, god knows it needs something doing to it....surely they could and that would be far more justified than f'ing around with the beautiful old covered market place and it's wonderful oldie world feel.
I bet poor old Mick Gibbett's having kittens!
Mr Gebbet doesnt appear to be if this article is to be believed. They need to keep the traditional side of the market rather than turn it into a souless place.
Oh well, maybe he has ulterior motives, I really like Mick (as do we all) so I'll have to speak to him directly sometime to get his exact take on it.
I fancy that in order for this to get the go ahead and be finished in time for 2012 it would take a minor miracle don't you B?
My worry is that over the past 10 years, particularly since the arrival of the DLR station, Greenwich village has become a soulless pastiche of itself. The exception being the way the covered market has developed into a bloody good place to eat, the best Thai green curry in London I reckon.
As much as all this redevelopment is required I'm beginning to get tired of the rush to get things completed for the 2012 Olympics. Granted, the foot tunnel is in desperate need of refurbishment, there is no provision planned for alternative river crossing. This turns what is already a complete nightmare of a commute into an unholy mess. At weekends the whole East end is a virtual no go area anyway, everything is shutting down.
Only you won't profit.
Also, what on earth is a 'boutique' hotel when its at home??
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How ironic that these days these house's are worth virtually millions, like Crooms Hill and Hyde Vale and give the area it's character, it's heritage and correct setting. Now they want to 'Bluewater' a vibrant working market, not perfect by any means , but loved by the local community, and everyone else world wide who visit's the place. Not sure these tourists visit Woolwich for there wonderful neo- socalist vision of architecture, and the crap council buildings that I had to endure as a youngster. Gems such as the Ferrier, Springfields, Mascall's too name but a few, are not in two many books on architecture on getting it right Eh!....... But let's press ahead with another Tesco, Boots, Coffee shop and bugger the community........ Just leave alone people, and concerntrate on putting right 'estates' that your colleagues created....
Social engineering with buildings----social engineering with people -------------------------------wonder where these "master minds" are now?
Lying on a beach in Bermuda is my guess!
Take your pick, The Ferrier Estate, Thamesmead, The Millennium Village, to name but a few. Greenwich council clearly have not got a clue. There are a lot of shit ideas getting the go ahead off the back of the Olympics.
Sure that LBG didn't design Millennium Village, that was English Partnerships (I think).
I actually quite liked East Greenwich hospital, bit of a fan of Brutalist architechture, until my Uncle went in and nearly didn't come out. The greatest thing about Greenwich was a lack of poncey development as seen in places like Clapham, Hoxton, Shoreditch etc.... but I suppose it'll come full pelt next boom.