Greenwich Borough Council has accused the Government of meaning very little by its increasing use of "localism" after communities secretary Eric Pickles upheld an appeal and allowed redevelopment of the Greenwich Market site in the town centre and the world heritage site.
The Council had rejected the application on grounds of conflict with the local urban form, detriment to the area and listed buildings, failure to protect the conservation area, overdevelopment, unsympathetic materials, conflict with the local plan, conflict with the world heritage site and traffic problems.
Council Planning Board chair Ray Walker called it regrettable that a secretary of state apparently pledged to a greater degree of localism had overturned a unanimous decision by councillors.
"Localism is a word which seems to be increasingly deployed but carries very little actual meaning for the Government," he said.
"This appeal gives the green light to a scheme totally out of keeping with the history and architecture of Greenwich town centre and which simply is not of a sufficiently high standard for a world heritage site. It is particularly unfortunate that the application will permit the Greenwich Hospital Estate to demolish the heart of Greenwich town centre just as we have shown off all its charms to the millions of visitors in 2012 and who, instead of being encouraged to return, will avoid the building site that the Greenwich Hospital Estate will turn the town into."
The plan involves demolition of the core market building and construction of 1,214m² of retail space, 405m² of offices, a 5,625m² hotel and market space.
