Willingale Associates architects proposes rival plan for Bishop鈥檚 Place site, commissioned by businessman who opposes Foster's design

Foster鈥檚 Shoreditch development plan, which was slammed by Cabe two weeks ago, is being challenged by a rival design.

Willingale Associates architects has drawn up an alternative development scheme for the Bishop鈥檚 Place site. Its proposal retains historic buildings, which would be demolished under Foster + Partner鈥檚 design. Cabe criticised Foster's plans as being out of keeping with the neighbourhood.

The alternative plan has been commmissioned by a local businessman who owns the Light, a former electric light station built in 1893 that powered Liverpool Street station and that is now a bar on Shoreditch High Street.

James Goff, director of the Light, said: 鈥淗ammerson鈥檚 scheme unnecessarily tramples on the Light and harms the conservation area. The Willingale scheme is better for Shoreditch, better for Hackney and better for London.

好色先生TVs like the Light can sit alongside modern development and balance out the street scene to connect local people to their heritage."

Foster + Partner鈥檚 scheme, commissioned by Hammerson, is due to appear before Hackney鈥檚 planning committee on 23 January.

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