Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Covent Garden market is moving out, leaving nine acres of fiercely congested London quiet for the first time in several centuries.
The departure of the market has opened the way for the planners and property developers eager to 'redevelop' not only the market itself but 90 acres of Covent Garden. Sunken motorways, an international conference centre, luxury hotels, expensive offices, tall apartment blocks. The benefits, many would reasonably argue, of 20th century development. It has been the same with the Barbican; the Elephant and Castle; in central Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester; Exeter and Plymouth. It brings a new style to our city centres and, indisputably, profit to potential developers.
But at what cost to 'villages' like Covent Garden and the people who live in them? The planners seem confident and promise responsible behaviour. Jim Douglas Henry and a Man Alive team have been listening to the planners and the people because what is happening in Covent Garden is important for all of us. (Original Billing)
Clip taken from Man Alive, originally broadcast on Wednesday the 3rd May, 1972.
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Covent Garden market is moving out, leaving nine acres of fiercely congested London quiet for the first time in several centuries.
The departure of the market has opened the way for the planners and property developers eager to 'redevelop' not only the market itself but 90 acres of Covent Garden. Sunken motorways, an international conference centre, luxury hotels, expensive offices, tall apartment blocks. The benefits, many would reasonably argue, of 20th century development. It has been the same with the Barbican; the Elephant and Castle; in central Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester; Exeter and Plymouth. It brings a new style to our city centres and, indisputably, profit to potential developers.
But at what cost to 'villages' like Covent Garden and the people who live in them? The planners seem confident and promise responsible behaviour. Jim Douglas Henry and a Man Alive team have been listening to the planners and the people because what is happening in Covent Garden is important for all of us. (Original Billing)
Clip taken from Man Alive, originally broadcast on Wednesday the 3rd May, 1972.
You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of TV to educate, entertain and enlighten you with classic clips from the BBC vaults.
Make sure you subscribe so that you never miss a single stop on our amazing journey through the BBC Archive - youtube.com/c/BBCArchive?sub_confirmation=1
You can also dive into plenty more BBC Archive on our website - bbc.co.uk/archive
