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Smithfield General Market Under Threat

Dear All,

you may have been approached by the developers from Hendersons with clipboards asking you to support their scheme for Smithfield General Market. What they perhaps didn't tell you was the extent of demolition proposed and that it is going to be replaced with an office-led development.

I work at SAVE Britain's Heritage which is based around the corner. We have been campaigning for this building for several years, and were part of a Public Inquiry that overturned a previous application to demolish 5 years ago.

We have developed an alternative plan for the building, with experienced market developers Urban Space Management who are responsible for Greenwich Market, Spitalfields, Camden Market and others. Their scheme is conservation led and is based on a sound business plan.

"If you go to St Bartholomew's and then walk through Smithfield, it is like walking from one cathedral to another. You wouldn't pull down St Bartholomew's, nor should you pull down Smithfield." Alan Bennett – supporter of the campaign to save Smithfield General Market.

Smithfield General Market was built in the late 19^th Century: together with the meat and poultry markets it makes up one of the grandest processions of market buildings in Europe. It is a public asset, owned by the City of London Corporation. It has been largely kept out of use since the 1980s when the market closed.

Henderson Global Investors currently own the lease. They are seeking planning permission to demolish the majority of the General Market, Fish Market and Red House. Hendersons say that they are bringing the buildings, long empty, back into use.

We say that most of the General Market will be destroyed, including its unique interiors and handsome top-lit market halls.

It will be replaced by office blocks rising to over 60 feet. This demolition is unjustified and will cause substantial harm to the conservation area. The proposed new public space is minimal.

SAVE and Eric Reynolds of Urban Space Management have devised a financially viable scheme to bring the site back into use without demolition, preserving the handsome market halls.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please write a letter of objection against the proposed scheme. For details, please visit our website on www.savebritainsheritage.org

Here you will find the address of the City Planning Officer gemma.delves@cityoflondon.gov.uk

and some suggested grounds for objection, should you wish to use them. You will find details of our alternative scheme and an independent assessment of the Henderson Planning Application.

Planning application numbers: 13/00150/FULEIA, 13/00155/LBC, 13/00156/CAC

The scheme has been called ‘Butchery', by the Victorian Society and criticised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Islington Council, the Charterhouse, the Council for British Architecture, the Twentieth Century Society, the Ancient Monuments Society, the Heritage of London Trust, many local residents and businesses.

The consultation period for the market will last ONE MORE WEEK until 28^th June. Please register your objection with the City within this time.

THERE IS A VIABLE FUNDABLE ALTERNATIVE. Eric Reynolds, the entrepreneur behind Camden Lock, Greenwich and Spitalfields Markets has made an offer to transform the General Market into a retail market on the lines of flourishing Borough Market. This will generate a £28m investment in reviving the historic market halls, with Mr Reynolds providing 40% of the capital. This will generate a rent of £700,000 to the City Corporation – level with the Henderson scheme

"Smithfield was the scene of many martyrdoms - this would be another." Alan Bennett, supporter of the campaign to save Smithfield General Market

www.savebritainsheritage.org 0207 253 3500

More images can be found on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SaveSmithfieldMarket

Clem Cecil

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Attachments:

BADGE 1.jpg, 482 KB
Copy of GREAT VIEW OF DOME 2 web.jpg, 33 KB
SMithfield flyer 24th june.doc, 334 KB

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Daszko on June 27, 2013 at 15:25

I shall back your idea!

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Permalink Reply by a on June 27, 2013 at 19:05

Only hours to go.

You may have had a flyer through your letterbox about this. Please, please, just send an email listing these reasons for objection:

he worst mutilation of a major Victorian landmark in 30 years.

We object on the following grounds:
1) The proposal entails the loss of a major landmark building including its splendid market halls and roofs
2) The proposal will cause substantial harm to the Smithfield conservation area and surrounding conservation areas, Grade II* listed Meat Market and Grade II listed Poultry Market including the loss of its listed canopy. There will be the loss of important views, including from the Holborn Viaduct
3) The buildings have never been market tested (as recommended by the Planning Inspector's Report following the Public Inquiry in 2008) and English Heritage has relied on applicant's figures claiming deficit to justify offices in place of market halls
4) There is a conservation - led scheme for the site (see attached image) backed up by a viable business plan
5) There is no convincing justification for loss and demolition. "Heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require convincing justification." (NPPF paragraph 132)
6) The condition of the buildings, which have been deliberately neglected, is not a justification for demolition. "Where there is evidence of deliberate neglect of or damage to a heritage asset the deteriorated state of the heritage asset should not be taken into account in any decision." (NPPF paragraph 130)

Take a look at what's being proposed.