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Campaign to save bar on historic site from developer's bulldozers
Amar Singh, Media Correspondent02.01.08
Residents and business owners are campaigning to save a popular bar and restaurant from being demolished to make way for a multi-million-pound office and retail development.
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.
Reader views (4)
Hammerson, the 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.
How can they build all that for £650million, that is what the taxpayer is spending on one arena for the olympics.
- Dardellion Montblanc, London, UK
Just what we need, another office building - surely there is enough empty office space in the City already without spilling over into Shoreditch demolishing period buildings with these glassy, soul less behemoths. I'm not an expert but having attended meetings all over the City I have looked out of windows of tall buildings and seen empty office space all over the place across from and below me. Glassy skyscrapers look fine when collected together in an area like the Docklands or La Defense in Paris but let them the stay there.
- Mark, London
I would have more sympathy for this place if the staff weren't such a miserable offhand bunch. I work nearby and end up here quite a lot. I don't think I have ever seen one of them smile or look anything other than like they were doing you a massive favour by letting you spend your money in there. Fair enough, it's a lovely building, but not a great bar.
- Tom, London
Great place for a night out! It will be a great loss if this bar was to go. I have met so many of my friends at this place, and it is great for work events too. Shoreditch won't be the same with out it!
- Samantha Smith, Billericay, Essex
