The Cathedral’s Dean and Chapter said a ledger stone in a place of “dignified simplicity” would be the best way to mark the King, whose remains were found under a car park in Leicester last year.
It also emerged that the King would likely lie in state for several days to allow the public to visit his coffin.
A design brief released today recommended that the Cathedral’s internal design be altered to produce an area within the Chapel to honour the King. He would be buried under the spot where a memorial stone currently lies.
Canon Chancellor of Leicester Cathedral, David Monteith kneels next to a memorial stone marking the death of King Richard III Photo: Getty Images
The suggestion of a ledge stone is at direct odds with a tomb proposed and designed by the Richard III society. Philippa Langley, who initiated the search for Richard III, said she was “shocked and deeply disappointed” by the Chapter’s decision.
She said: “For two and a half years the idea of this tomb has been on the table. At no point was it not welcomed and no-one at any stage said it would not be considered.
“The dimension is only three inches bigger than the memorial slab that is already there. It would not impede the flow of people and it is not so high that you cannot see over it. You’ve got to honour his name, he was the King of England.”
She added: “The Chapter is out of touch with the people and what they want. Everyone I have been speaking to around Leicester wants a tomb. It would be a fitting memorial.”
Canon Barry Naylor, Acting Dean of Leicester Cathedral, hit back at the suggestion that a ledge stone would somehow not be a fitting honour.
He said: “For us it is not about the size, it is about where it is and where we are proposing is “the most honoured place in the Cathedral."
He said: “We want to give him a place of love and respect and we think the best way would be a space of dignified simplicity. That's a different approach to the people who say you show honour and respect by the sheer size of something.
“Unlike others, we have to take into account the context, environment, structure and life of the Cathedral. It’s hard to just put a Tardis into a space.
“To anyone who thinks such a stone is not respectful, I would say that perhaps the most beloved tomb in this country is the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey, which is a simple ledger stone."
He said, alongside work already planned for the Cathedral, the Chapter were considering susbstantial renovations around the ledger stone, including demolishing the Canons’ stalls, which would allow more room for tourists.
The design brief states that lighting around the tomb would be installed “to create a sense of awe and wonder”, and that Richard III-related stained glass, textiles and furnishing could be included.
Backing a ledge stone, it says: "While other forms of grave, tomb or memorial cannot be ruled out prior to consultation, it is unlikely that a large table top tomb or effigy would be acceptable to the chapter or the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England (CFCE)."
The brief further states the chapter "would be reluctant to site a large memorial in the cathedral which would assume disproportionate significance in a modest building.
Work is expected to begin on Richard III’s final resting place in January, 2014, with re-interment and memorial service taking place in May.
The remains of the King were found under a car park in Leicester last year. Last month, experts from the University of Leicester revealed DNA testing had positively identified the remains as those of Richard III, who fell at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, bringing to an end the Wars of the Roses.
