According to reports, the plans have been drawn up by architect Burrell Foley Fischer as a visionary alternative to Henderson's plans. Henderson's scheme includes a refurbishment of much of the market as well as the creation of six floors of office space above the market.
Under SAVE's plans, which it said in a statement is a "truly conservation-led scheme", the market's iconic glass roofs are retained. SAVE has raised concerns about the loss of the roofs under Henderson's plans, saying it is a "loss of the most characteristic feature of the market building" and that it is to the detriment of the building, the market ensemble and the Smithfield Conservation Area.
"Our concern is that these proposals will be the basis of a planning application in the very near future," said SAVE director Clem Cecil when Henderson unveiled its plans. "We hope that English Heritage will push for maximum conservation and the retention of the roofs, so important to the entire market ensemble and the Smithfield Conservation Area.”
"The Smithfield quarter, like Covent Garden before it, has come to life thanks to natural regeneration as small businesses have colonised every vacated premise in the streets around the market buildings," said SAVE's president Marcus Binney according to reports. "This is creating one of central London’s liveliest districts, full of both traditional character and new life. Smithfield Market ranks as one of London’s chief public spaces that should be serving the city and its visitors, as the capital’s newest hub."
Henderson's director of property development, Geoff Harris, said he believed its proposals had been "misrepresented". "Henderson's custodianship of these buildings, and the proposals that have been made by our team, have been created with care and in a collaborative approach with English Heritage and with the City of London planning authority over the past two-and-a-half years," he said.
