Greenwich Boutique Hotel inquiry continues

The Greenwich Market redevelopment public inquiry continued yesterday with the testimony of the developer’s witness.

Dr Jonathan Edis was called to the stand by developer and landowner, Greenwich Hospital Trust.

Dr Edis told the inquiry that the regeneration would create new buildings with “character” that would be of “potential historic significance”. The market’s 1950’s buildings, set for demolition if it gets the go ahead, did not hang together with the rest of the market, he said.

He was challenged about a claim on the Bespoke Hotels website that the new hotel would have an “alfresco restaurant on a cobbled courtyard” but he said he had no knowledge of why Bespoke had stated that. It was announced last year that Bespoke would be the operators of the Greenwich Market boutique hotel if it gets the go-ahead.

The scheme’s architect, David Selby from Hopkins Architects, gave evidence to the hearing last Friday.

He revealed that triple glazing had been considered for the proposed hotel which will be directly adjacent to the busy market but they instead decided that the sound of traders setting up their pitches would be “part of the character of the hotel”.

The hotel would be split across two buildings and he was asked about guests and services having to be trolleyed across the market. He said that doing this would “not be incompatible with the character of the market”.

Selby said that the juxtaposition of market and hotel is not dissimilar to the one at Bermondsey Square, where Bespoke also operate a boutique hotel.

The inquiry continues.