Woolwich town centre regeneration halted after construction company goes into administration
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
Works to regenerate Woolwich town centre could be delayed after the construction company carrying out the job went into administration.
Surrey-based firm Geoffrey Osborne Limited has called in administrators from RSM’s restructuring advisory teams.
The company was appointed to carry out works for Greenwich council’s scheme to regenerate Beresford Square and Powis Street in Woolwich town centre. Work on the £25million town centre project began in September last year and is ongoing.
A Greenwich council spokesman said: “We’ll be taking measures to ensure work progresses on the Beresford Square, Powis Street and Market Pavilion projects as soon as possible.”
The scheme will see major renovations to Beresford Square including terraced seating, lighting and an interactive water fountain. The square’s 400-year-old market is also planned to have dedicated pavement along its west side, when stalls were previously arranged in the centre of the space.
John Haddon, 77, has traded in Beresford Square for 25 years. He said that vendors were not “fantastically enthusiastic” about the new scheme.
He said: “Most of us are established here in this area. I’m quite lucky because I can be seen from the bus route. Markets are really a thing of the past in the south. In the north, they’re quite strong still. The high street isn’t really big enough to attract people.”
A Greenwich council spokesman previously said the changes to the town centre had been planned to make Woolwich a more attractive and welcoming area to encourage more people to shop there. They added that the scheme was designed in collaboration with residents, businesses and market traders.
Geoffrey Osborne Limited was approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.
Pictured top: The regeneration project is being carried out in Beresford Square (Picture: Joe Coughlan)
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