Plans
Mindful of the fact that the Chichester Butter Market is listed grade II*, our partners Bayley + Willmer have proposed designs that pay particular attention to the desirability of preserving the listed building and its setting. Our scheme proposes minimal alteration to the structure and fabric of the building, while its most radical suggestion – namely, the opening up of the rear wall – is actually based on an understanding that the Butter Market was substantially open at one time.
Bearing in mind our aim to re-introduce a simple tolling model to the market for the sale of local produce, we have designed the ground floor to be as open as possible and included semi-permanent stalls along the side walls for the potential use of existing tenants. These have moveable partitions to provide new exciting and vibrant retail opportunities when they arise.
The key use of the first floor is likely to be an academy style restaurant but we have been careful to lay out the space to be flexible enough to allow the building to be changed and modified as required over time.
The rear of the ground floor market space will be opened up to integrate with the proposed pedestrianised area at the back of the Butter Market. As well as allowing access from the market to the areas beyond, the new open space will provide ample room for alfresco dining and relaxation.
This plan gives an idea of some of the sympathetic structural work we propose that will restore the Butter Market and ensure its future long-term viability. All plans have been designed to have a minimum visual impact upon the architectural and historic fabric of the building.