Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Parafox]

14 hours ago, splinterdream said:

The inner ring road Eyres Monsell/Aylestone is a huge pain, they really need to add a couple of lanes to parts of it, roads always gridlocked

IIRC nearly all of the inner ring road was originally intended to be dual carriageway. If you look as you drive around it, there's lot's of room either side of the road.

 

I guess the money wasn't there and they settled for what we have now.

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Parafox said:

IIRC nearly all of the inner ring road was originally intended to be dual carriageway. If you look as you drive around it, there's lot's of room either side of the road.

 

I guess the money wasn't there and they settled for what we have now.

I think it was also about the time when building roads especially through populated areas became unfashionable and unacceptable certainly the section through the top of London through Oadby/Evington was put on hold and then cancelled completely due to local pressure groups. 

 

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/10000-seater-concert-venue-touted-10671133

 

10,000-seater concert venue touted for Leicester in revitalisation bid
Business leaders have set out what they think the city needs to unlock its 'full potential'

Hannah Richardson Local Democracy Reporter
04:00, 27 Nov 2025

The business group is exploring the concert venue idea in partnership with a music industry trade body
A new 10,000-seater concert venue could revitalise Leicester and unlock its “full potential”, a local business forum has claimed.

The Leicester Growth Engine, an independent forum made up of local business leaders, also believes that the Haymarket Shopping Centre, in the city centre, should be completely redeveloped into a retail, hospitality and employment hub as part of its ideas to regenerate Leicester.

The group has this week published a range of early ideas it believes will help “strengthen” the city’s economy and combat the “significant economic challenges” residents have experienced over recent years. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the city had lower than average rates of employment in the year to the end of 2023 – the most recent data available – compared to the rest of the East Midlands – 65.1 per cent compared to 75.5 per cent.

The same year, the city was shown to have the least disposable income per head of anywhere in the country, according to the ONS. The forum’s proposals will ultimately be shaped into a “10-year vision” for the city which it believes will be “capable of creating new employment opportunities, increasing footfall in the city centre, and enhancing Leicester’s appeal as a destination”.

Key among its suggestions are a drive to turn the city into an overnight tourist destination. The forum believes a multi-purpose concert and conference venue should be built, with documents stating a “10,000-seat venue proposal is being explored in partnership with developers, a land agent, and a UK music industry trade body”.

 

The city centre is also a focus of its vision, with the group calling for a “full refresh” of the Haymarket Shopping Centre. Business leaders believe private investment could see the centre turned into a “proper mixed-use hub, with modern retail and hospitality on the lower levels, flexible office and start-up space above”, and new city centre homes also included.

 

Empty shops and buildings should also be “repurposed”, the Leicester Growth Engine said. Statistics from the summer show that around one in seven city centre shops then stood empty.

 

The group believes large units should be turned into food courts and activity-led social spaces. Meanwhile, underutilised council-owned land should be used to unlock new parking and residential opportunities. These steps would “repurpose dead space” into “income-generating assets”, documents state.

Forum chair Rajee Pattni said: “Leicester is at a turning point. Our city has the talent, creativity, and ambition to thrive, but we need to act now to unlock our full potential. This paper should act as a call to action for everyone who cares about Leicester’s future.”

However, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he believes Leicester City Council has already been “very successful” in creating a more attractive and vibrant city centre. There are, he claimed, more businesses moving in than are moving out, as well as a “dramatic increase” in hotel bedspaces which he believes shows people do see Leicester as an overnight destination.

He added: “Over the last decade, we have invested very heavily in the environment in the city centre. It started with Jubilee Square and Cathedral Gardens.

“More recently, the investment in Granby Street and the current investment in the market are all about making Leicester a more attractive place for people to visit, people to shop in, people to live in, and people to work in. Whenever I take outsiders around Leicester. or people coming back to Leicester after a long time, they are all enormously impressed by what we’ve done.”

Leicester City Council is currently working on a number of schemes for the heart of the city. These include the creation of a new Leicester Market, which would see space shared between stalls and events, and a shopping link between Cank Street and Green Dragon Square.

Sir Peter also disagreed over the proposals for the Haymarket centre, saying the council-owned building currently offered a “very good rate of return” to the authority. The concept of “closing it down and redeveloping it” is “unnecessary”, he believes.

The city mayor acknowledged that there was “always more to be done”, however, adding he would “very much welcome” a chance to meet with the Leicester Growth Engine and discuss their ideas with them.

He said: “Anybody who has positive and exciting ideas for the city centre, I’m always happy to work with them, to talk with them.”

Sir Peter added: “You can never relax in promoting change and new investment in a city centre, particularly in the present day when the challenge of internet shopping and out of town retailing are there. The city centre has got to continue to evolve, and the council’s got to make it a place where the private sector wants to invest.

“I’m very pleased to say that, in Leicester, they do want to invest and they’re doing so.”

[MaidstoneFox]

42 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/10000-seater-concert-venue-touted-10671133

 

10,000-seater concert venue touted for Leicester in revitalisation bid
Business leaders have set out what they think the city needs to unlock its 'full potential'

Hannah Richardson Local Democracy Reporter
04:00, 27 Nov 2025

The business group is exploring the concert venue idea in partnership with a music industry trade body
A new 10,000-seater concert venue could revitalise Leicester and unlock its “full potential”, a local business forum has claimed.

The Leicester Growth Engine, an independent forum made up of local business leaders, also believes that the Haymarket Shopping Centre, in the city centre, should be completely redeveloped into a retail, hospitality and employment hub as part of its ideas to regenerate Leicester.

The group has this week published a range of early ideas it believes will help “strengthen” the city’s economy and combat the “significant economic challenges” residents have experienced over recent years. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the city had lower than average rates of employment in the year to the end of 2023 – the most recent data available – compared to the rest of the East Midlands – 65.1 per cent compared to 75.5 per cent.

The same year, the city was shown to have the least disposable income per head of anywhere in the country, according to the ONS. The forum’s proposals will ultimately be shaped into a “10-year vision” for the city which it believes will be “capable of creating new employment opportunities, increasing footfall in the city centre, and enhancing Leicester’s appeal as a destination”.

Key among its suggestions are a drive to turn the city into an overnight tourist destination. The forum believes a multi-purpose concert and conference venue should be built, with documents stating a “10,000-seat venue proposal is being explored in partnership with developers, a land agent, and a UK music industry trade body”.

 

The city centre is also a focus of its vision, with the group calling for a “full refresh” of the Haymarket Shopping Centre. Business leaders believe private investment could see the centre turned into a “proper mixed-use hub, with modern retail and hospitality on the lower levels, flexible office and start-up space above”, and new city centre homes also included.

 

Empty shops and buildings should also be “repurposed”, the Leicester Growth Engine said. Statistics from the summer show that around one in seven city centre shops then stood empty.

 

The group believes large units should be turned into food courts and activity-led social spaces. Meanwhile, underutilised council-owned land should be used to unlock new parking and residential opportunities. These steps would “repurpose dead space” into “income-generating assets”, documents state.

Forum chair Rajee Pattni said: “Leicester is at a turning point. Our city has the talent, creativity, and ambition to thrive, but we need to act now to unlock our full potential. This paper should act as a call to action for everyone who cares about Leicester’s future.”

However, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he believes Leicester City Council has already been “very successful” in creating a more attractive and vibrant city centre. There are, he claimed, more businesses moving in than are moving out, as well as a “dramatic increase” in hotel bedspaces which he believes shows people do see Leicester as an overnight destination.

He added: “Over the last decade, we have invested very heavily in the environment in the city centre. It started with Jubilee Square and Cathedral Gardens.

“More recently, the investment in Granby Street and the current investment in the market are all about making Leicester a more attractive place for people to visit, people to shop in, people to live in, and people to work in. Whenever I take outsiders around Leicester. or people coming back to Leicester after a long time, they are all enormously impressed by what we’ve done.”

Leicester City Council is currently working on a number of schemes for the heart of the city. These include the creation of a new Leicester Market, which would see space shared between stalls and events, and a shopping link between Cank Street and Green Dragon Square.

Sir Peter also disagreed over the proposals for the Haymarket centre, saying the council-owned building currently offered a “very good rate of return” to the authority. The concept of “closing it down and redeveloping it” is “unnecessary”, he believes.

The city mayor acknowledged that there was “always more to be done”, however, adding he would “very much welcome” a chance to meet with the Leicester Growth Engine and discuss their ideas with them.

He said: “Anybody who has positive and exciting ideas for the city centre, I’m always happy to work with them, to talk with them.”

Sir Peter added: “You can never relax in promoting change and new investment in a city centre, particularly in the present day when the challenge of internet shopping and out of town retailing are there. The city centre has got to continue to evolve, and the council’s got to make it a place where the private sector wants to invest.

“I’m very pleased to say that, in Leicester, they do want to invest and they’re doing so.”

I would of thought the cost of redeveloping the Haymarket would be huge for the potential return especially if it already turns a profit for the Council. Also, I doubt there is the catchment for two premium shopping centres in the City as well as Fosse Park. The concert venue would be a good draw, though i can't remember what the capacity was of the proposed venue at the King Power Stadium? 

[davieG]

32 minutes ago, MaidstoneFox said:

what the capacity was of the proposed venue at the King Power Stadium?

6k I think

[danny.]

It’s a shame the previous Haymarket Theatre failed. It was a good idea but so poorly executed (council special) that it was obviously never going to last. I do wonder if the disposable cash is still there to support ventures like this at the moment. 

Edited 27 November 2025 by danny.

[Stadt]

The big problem is getting people in from the county to sustain entertainment/leisure facilities, bars, pubs and restaurants especially midweek.

 

The city centre is a nightmare to drive into, just the sheer volume of traffic, bus and cycle lanes eating up capacity (self-created council problem) and so few rail links. Instead of trying to create an additional platform or sorting out the Ivanhoe line spur, the City Council thought - let's knock down the Parcel yard without a contractor lined up to redevelop the station all to... put some more shops in?

[jonthefox]

Just got back from town. I took a group of sen teenagers ( my job) to see the lights etc and was asked for cash four times by pissheads. My home city has gone. 

[davieG]

8 hours ago, Stadt said:

The big problem is getting people in from the county to sustain entertainment/leisure facilities, bars, pubs and restaurants especially midweek.

 

The city centre is a nightmare to drive into, just the sheer volume of traffic, bus and cycle lanes eating up capacity (self-created council problem) and so few rail links. Instead of trying to create an additional platform or sorting out the Ivanhoe line spur, the City Council thought - let's knock down the Parcel yard without a contractor lined up to redevelop the station all to... put some more shops in?

That's part of the reason I gave up my ST with all the evening and 8pm KOs the bus was so unreliably.

[niyaminski]

On 17/11/2025 at 14:38, Grebfromgrebland said:

Oadby, Stoneygate and Knighton don't look in tatters and these are already or are becoming mostly Indian / Muslim.

 

I get the point about the extensions though!

They’re mostly 2nd and 3rd gen “Indians” there though. Not like belgrave area where 60% of conversations don’t happen in English.

[Paninistickers]

On 27/11/2025 at 13:52, Stadt said:

The big problem is getting people in from the county to sustain entertainment/leisure facilities, bars, pubs and restaurants especially midweek.

Exactly this. And the problem is exacerbated by the exodus of Leicester people from urban Leicester. 

 

Nights out in town used be birds and lads from the saff, thurnby Lodge, Wigston, Blaby, Braunstone, Aylestone, LFE etc etc and the county towns too

 

 

Now that demographic has bolted to the  county in places like Whitwick, Newbold Verdon, Broughton Astley, Mountsorrel and, thanks to the dismal public transport, going into town is an ordeal 

[Stadt]

8 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

Exactly this. And the problem is exacerbated by the exodus of Leicester people from urban Leicester. 

 

Nights out in town used be birds and lads from the saff, thurnby Lodge, Wigston, Blaby, Braunstone, Aylestone, LFE etc etc and the county towns too

 

 

Now that demographic has bolted to the  county in places like Whitwick, Newbold Verdon, Broughton Astley, Mountsorrel and, thanks to the dismal public transport, going into town is an ordeal 

I live in Mountsorrel and went into town on Thursday evening. It took about 50 minutes on the bus - it’s 6 miles ffs.

[SkidsFox]

I suppose the cost has been a deterrent, but a few decent tram lines into the city would really enhance life for everyone.

[davieG]

13 minutes ago, SkidsFox said:

I suppose the cost has been a deterrent, but a few decent tram lines into the city would really enhance life for everyone.

Replacing some and adding some new stations would help Knighton, Wigston  Magna, Kibworth. Not forgetting the Ivanhoe line  to Ashby.

 

If you look along the South East Coast every town has a station some have 2 or 3 but then of course Beeching lived down there.

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 27/11/2025 at 21:49, jonthefox said:

Just got back from town. I took a group of teenagers ( my job) to see the lights etc and was asked for cash four times by the little pissheads.  

[davieG]

26 minutes ago, davieG said:

Replacing some and adding some new stations would help Knighton, Wigston  Magna, Kibworth. Not forgetting the Ivanhoe line  to Ashby.

 

If you look along the South East Coast every town has a station some have 2 or 3 but then of course Beeching lived down there.

Trouble is we're like the Invisible Man to the Government and Soulsby's isolation from the rest of the East Midlands paranoia doesn't help. He just wants his little kingdom expanding to include the surrounding districts.

[Muzzy_no7]

10 hours ago, SkidsFox said:

I suppose the cost has been a deterrent, but a few decent tram lines into the city would really enhance life for everyone.

Like City with the stadium expansion the boat has well and truly been missed with this one. 

[Tommy G]

On 27/11/2025 at 21:49, jonthefox said:

Just got back from town. I took a group of sen teenagers ( my job) to see the lights etc and was asked for cash four times by pissheads. My home city has gone. 

Any good? I’ve got a SEN 7 year old and turning the lounge lights on excite him ffs

[Parafox]

On 27/11/2025 at 21:49, jonthefox said:

Just got back from town. I took a group of sen teenagers ( my job) to see the lights etc and was asked for cash four times by pissheads. My home city has gone. 

 

10 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

 That edit is unfair Trav. It takes strength of character and dedication to do what @jonthefox does 

[Trav Le Bleu]

 

10 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

 That edit is unfair Trav. It takes strength of character and dedication to do what @jonthefox does 

Indeed, I just thought it funny to role reverse it, any offence is accidental and I apologise for any caused.

[UniFox21]

10 hours ago, davieG said:

Replacing some and adding some new stations would help Knighton, Wigston  Magna, Kibworth. Not forgetting the Ivanhoe line  to Ashby.

 

If you look along the South East Coast every town has a station some have 2 or 3 but then of course Beeching lived down there.

Having the ability to get between Leicester and Birmingham (and all the towns in-between) with a later service than 9:30/10pm on a weekend would be a real help. 

 

Connection from the city towards the west of the county and west mids is abysmal. 

[jonthefox]

38 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Any good? I’ve got a SEN 7 year old and turning the lounge lights on excite him ffs

The lights are fine . The clientele sitting around the town hall, not so much. 

[jonthefox]

18 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

 

Indeed, I just thought it funny to role reverse it, any offence is accidental and I apologise for any caused.

No offence taken. I get worse from the wife 

[Parafox]

Our friend's son was randomly attacked on Horsefair Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

 

He had a bleed on the brain as a result and had to have part of his skull removed to relieve the pressure.

 

He is now in ICU in an induced coma whilst they wait to see how he progresses.

 

So yes, right now the city of Leicester is a dump

[CosbehFox]

44 minutes ago, Parafox said:

Our friend's son was randomly attacked on Horsefair Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

 

He had a bleed on the brain as a result and had to have part of his skull removed to relieve the pressure.

 

He is now in ICU in an induced coma whilst they wait to see how he progresses.

 

So yes, right now the city of Leicester is a dump

I know the lad as well - just founded out this morning and shocked me greatly. I played 5-a-side footy with him regularly. 

Edited 1 December 2025 by CosbehFox