Shocked by the redevelopment plan and dispute over the status of the 140-year-old Grade I heritage structure, the Victorian Society, a national charity organisation in the UK that fights for the preservation of Victorian and Edwardian-built heritage buildings, has written a letter to Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak, asking him not to bow under the floor space pressure and maintain the rich heritage of Mumbai.

Dr Colin Cunnhingham, chairman of the Victorian Society, on Wednesday wrote a letter to Phatak seeking steps to restore the Crawford Market. This is his second letter to Phatak on the issue — the first one was not acknowledged.

“You will not need me to tell you about the quality of this historic building. It is an outstanding composition and a vital element in the townscape of that area,” Dr Cunnhingham said. He said that it should be a shock for the city to learn that their apparent determination to destroy their heritage is noticed in other countries. “I hope that the pressure for new floor space will not be allowed to overrule the need to maintain the quality of the city,” he said.

Talking to Newsline from London, Dr Cunnhingham said he learnt “with horror” about the new proposals to redevelop the Crawford Market. Having made a documentary on the structure for the BBC, he has also featured Mumbai’s struggle to get a world heritage status for the Crawford Market in The Victorian, a magazine circulated to over 3,000 heritage enthusiasts in the UK.

“Any redevelopment in the close proximity of the clock tower will materially damage its character and its townscape value,” he said.

The market, famous for its architecture, is a blend of Norman and Flemish architectural styles designed by Lockwood Kipling, father of novelist Rudyard Kipling. The BMC has approved a proposal allowing the redevelopment of the market with higher FSI, but is awaiting a nod from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC).

The current debate between Phatak and the MHCC—a copy of the letter is also marked to committee chairman Dinesh Afzalpurkar—on which part of Crawford has got heritage value, has also disturbed Dr Cunnhingham. Phatak has said that only the clock tower and two fountains have heritage status and not the entire market. However, the government has been asked to clarify the issue.

“It is shocking to know about the debate. The fountain in the centre, the space around the building and the former beef market, all of which were designed by the original architect, make an important contribution to the context of the building and all of this is listed heritage. To exclude any of these components would be a major loss,” he said.

The 51-year-old organisation campaigns for buildings with Victorian and Edwardian architecture and creates awareness through debates whenever any decision is taken affecting or damaging the future of such historic structures.

Dr Cunnhingham said though redevelopment cannot be stopped in any city, authorities and planners should consider sensible development taking account of historic buildings and structures. He gave examples of Glasgow and Manchester where commercial warehouses, canal and basins have been carefully preserved with new developments.