Campaign to save bar on historic site from developer's bulldozers

The Light in Shoreditch, which is located within a Victorian power station that once generated energy for nearby Liverpool Street station, is one of east London's most distinctive venues.

But the 1893 building could disappear if plans for Bishops Place, the one million sq ft scheme designed by Foster & Partners, are approved.

Hammerson, the FTSE 100 property developer, will put its plans for a 35-storey office skyscraper, a 50-storey apartment block and a hotel - all costing about £650 million - before Hackney council's planning committee at the end of the month.

The development has been lambasted by residents and business owners who are campaigning to preserve The Light and protect the surrounding conservation area.

The Save The Light campaign consists of an online petition and an alternative proposal drawn up by local architects Willingale Associates. These plans set out to integrate the City better with Shoreditch's historic buildings while retaining The Light.

James Goff, director of The Light, said: "Hammerson's scheme unnecessarily tramples on The Light and harms the conservation area.

"It simply moves the City boundary into Shoreditch with no regard to the crucial change of character. The Willingale scheme is better for Shoreditch, better for Hackney and better for London.

"Hackney and east London suffered badly in the Sixties from ill-considered residential tower blocks, dominating and destroying communities. The same mistake must not happen again in the second millennium.

"Buildings like The Light can sit alongside modern developments and balance out the street scene to connect local people to their heritage."

In 2000, a similar campaign helped The Light successfully fight a planning application by Railtrack to demolish the building and construct a raft over the train lines and the bar.

No one from Hammerson was available for comment.