Smithfield butchers hit back over English Heritage claims

The butchers of the Smithfield Market have reacted angrily to English Heritage's criticism of plans to regenerate a section of the old market site.

The £200 million plans to revamp the site were savaged by the heritage and environmental group SAVE but the workers of the meat market have hit back, Property Week reports.

Greg Lawrence, chair of Smithfield Market Tenants Association, claimed that the groups were deliberately trying to scupper the plans.

He said that the duo had "proceeded in a manner that is designed to deliberately undermine the market by muddying the waters through innuendo and that is disgraceful in my opinion."

Thornfield's scheme, which is also backed by the trade union Unite, will see the General Market Building turned into almost 500,000 square feet of retail space and offices.

Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty has claimed that it has remained unaffected by the dip in the commercial property sector.

The firm recently reported a 20 per increase in orders for its services.

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