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davieG

Is the City of Leicester a dump?

By davieG, in General Chat

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£30 million student flats complex expansion set to overlook Leicester's Bede Park

By danjmartin  |  Posted: June 21, 2015

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    Artist's impression of how the 14-storey complex would look from Bede Park

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Plans for a £30 million expansion of a riverside student flats complex in Leicester's West End have been drawn up.

The scheme, proposed by Code Student Accommodation, would see a 14 storey block built on land to the south of the company's existing accommodation at the previously-converted Equity Shoe factoryin Western Road.

Code has acquired land at the rear of the Western pub, from Everards brewery, and a former knitwear factory for the development.

 

The pub itself will not be affected but a former coach house would be demolished.

The new block, which would enclose a large digital clock, would overlook the River Soar and nearby Bede Park.

The plans, being considered by planning officers at Leicester City Council, also include extending the other end of the 660 bed Equity complex to where Baby Planet now stands.

Jamie Lewis, Code's managing director, said the project would take the number of students on site up to 1,100.

Mr Lewis said the scheme would help regenerate the riverside area which had largely been disused industrial premises including the historic shoe factory.

He said: "We think it's a really good plan. It does involve a large block but Leicester is the ninth largest city in the country, it's a major university city and we think our proposed scheme is in keeping with those facts."

The Equity Shoe factory restoration has won a number of awards but the existing blocks facing Bede Park have divided opinion.

Critics say they dominate the park but others have applauded their design.

Code's acquisition consultant Rick Moore said it was hoped to extend an existing riverside walk way to allow the students to access Bede Park directly.

He said: "It's perfectly placed to so people can get right to De Montfort University campus.

"We have been working on these plans for months and we think they will help improve the area."

Leicester Civic Society chairman Stuart Bailey said: "14 storeys is a lot but the existing Jamie Lewis buildings are an interesting feature."

Ward councillor Sarah Russell said: "I would have to look at the designs before I commented on them but I would be concerned about having another 500 people moving into the area.

"Services are already strained and these are new people who will not be contributing council tax.

"I am worried it will horribly overshadow the park."

Zaheer Sattar, co-owner of Baby Planet, said he did not wish to leave the premises in Western Road but said: "Jamie Lewis has made us a number of offers which have got bigger and bigger.

"If he got planning permission we would look to relocate and we have a number of properties short listed which are not far away.

"The business will certainly continue."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/30-million-student-flats-complex-expansion-set/story-26734462-detail/story.html#ixzz3dht38k4R 

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Plans to turn empty Grade II* listed NatWest bank in St Martin's in city centre into a steakhouse

By Leicester Mercury  |  Posted: June 28, 2015

By Samantha Fisher

10378972-large.jpg
 

Former NatWest bank in St Martin's

 
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Plans have been drawn up to turn an empty grade II* listed building in the city centre into a restaurant.

The application outlines plans to turn the former NatWest bank, in St Martin's, into a Middleton's Steakhouse & Grill.

The company first opened in 2010 just outside King's Lynn, in Norfolk, and they now also have restaurants in Norwich, Colchester, and Milton Keynes.

 

Leicester Civic Society chairman Stuart Bailey said the application was good news.

"We are all in favour of new uses for old buildings," he said.

Businesses in the area also say they welcome the steakhouse.

Drew Harriman, owner of homeware shop Harriman and Co, in St Martin's, said: "It is really encouraging if something is going there.

"We are pleased all the empty buildings and spaces are filling up, especially that one, because a lot of our customers say it is a shame there is nothing there.

"We are getting really excited about what is happening at the moment. There is a lot of energy and new businesses opening."

He added that tourism from Richard III has helped to boost the area.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of tourists in Leicester, not only from the UK. This week we have had Danish, German, Japanese and Dutch customers.

"It is interesting how people are treating Leicester as a destination.

"It is all good and positive from our point of view."

He added that the trend over the last few years was for people to eat in the Highcross area.

"It is nice to see it spreading to other parts," he said.

Joe Jackson, owner of Holly's Coffee Shop, in St Martin's, said he was pleased to hear about the application.

"It is a beautiful old building, the architecture inside mirrors the outside.

"It has been closed for the last nine years.

"There have been so many empty units around here. It is good they are filling up."

Kalpesh Kundalia, owner of King's News, in St Martin's, said: "It will be good for me. It will bring business. There is a lot of stuff happening in this area."

City council planning officers have recommended the plans for approval.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Plans-turn-Grade-II-listed-NatWest-bank-St-Martin/story-26792497-detail/story.html#ixzz3eMLFrmAp 

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Plans for almost 400 new student flats in Leicester city centre

By TomPegden  |  Posted: June 29, 2015

10384286-large.jpg
 

Newarke Street

 
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A building company has won a £15.25 million contract to design and build 387 new student residences in Leicester city centre.

Student accommodation company Victoria Hall Management has awarded the contract to develop Allen House, in Newarke Street to a division of engineering and specialist contractor, North Midland Construction.

The project is being funded by the BlackRock UK Property Fund.

Work is just starting on site - opposite the historic Magazine - and the project is due for completion next summer.

Notts-based North Midland Construction is working with architects LE1 to develop the scheme which includes the sympathetic refurbishment of the 1920s building to include many of the original features.

There will be a mixture of apartment types, all with en-suite facilities.

The development will have a number of sustainability features including a combined heat and power system as well as air source heat pumps which will help cut costs.

Peter Stuart, head of construction for North Midland Construction's building division said: "We look forward to working in partnership with Victoria Hall and the team to deliver this significant student accommodation project which will further enhance the student living experience in Leicester."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Plans-400-new-student-flats-Leicester-city-centre/story-26797103-detail/story.html#ixzz3eRTkBzmJ 

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Plans to turn empty Grade II* listed NatWest bank in St Martin's in city centre into a steakhouse

By Leicester Mercury | Posted: June 28, 2015

By Samantha Fisher

10378972-large.jpg

Former NatWest bank in St Martin's

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Plans have been drawn up to turn an empty grade II* listed building in the city centre into a restaurant.

The application outlines plans to turn the former NatWest bank, in St Martin's, into a Middleton's Steakhouse & Grill.

The company first opened in 2010 just outside King's Lynn, in Norfolk, and they now also have restaurants in Norwich, Colchester, and Milton Keynes.

Leicester Civic Society chairman Stuart Bailey said the application was good news.

"We are all in favour of new uses for old buildings," he said.

Businesses in the area also say they welcome the steakhouse.

Drew Harriman, owner of homeware shop Harriman and Co, in St Martin's, said: "It is really encouraging if something is going there.

"We are pleased all the empty buildings and spaces are filling up, especially that one, because a lot of our customers say it is a shame there is nothing there.

"We are getting really excited about what is happening at the moment. There is a lot of energy and new businesses opening."

He added that tourism from Richard III has helped to boost the area.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of tourists in Leicester, not only from the UK. This week we have had Danish, German, Japanese and Dutch customers.

"It is interesting how people are treating Leicester as a destination.

"It is all good and positive from our point of view."

He added that the trend over the last few years was for people to eat in the Highcross area.

"It is nice to see it spreading to other parts," he said.

Joe Jackson, owner of Holly's Coffee Shop, in St Martin's, said he was pleased to hear about the application.

"It is a beautiful old building, the architecture inside mirrors the outside.

"It has been closed for the last nine years.

"There have been so many empty units around here. It is good they are filling up."

Kalpesh Kundalia, owner of King's News, in St Martin's, said: "It will be good for me. It will bring business. There is a lot of stuff happening in this area."

City council planning officers have recommended the plans for approval.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Plans-turn-Grade-II-listed-NatWest-bank-St-Martin/story-26792497-detail/story.html#ixzz3eMLFrmAp

Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook

Good stuff - another fine old building comes back into service

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Final works start to improve pedestrian and cycling routes around Leicester's St Nicholas Circle

By atroughton  |  Posted: July 02, 2015

10412836-large.jpg
 

City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby in the St Nicholas Circle area

 
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Work to improve pedestrian and cycling routes around Leicester's St Nicholas Circle will enter its final phase next week.

Drivers are being warned that temporary lane restrictions will be in place during off-peak hours, from Monday to Friday, while work is carried out.

The improvements are expected to take about 20 weeks.

The £1.7milllion scheme, part of the Connecting Leicester initiative, has already seen improvements completed on the south side of the busy junction.

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Wider pavements and a new cycleway have been constructed from Peacock Lane to St Augustine Road, where a lane of traffic has been removed.

A new cycle lane has also been created on the Southgates northbound slip road, and work to create a new entrance into the award-winning Castle Gardens is almost complete.

The project will now move on to the Jewry Wall side of St Nicholas Circle from Monday (July 6).

Existing footpaths will be widened and re-laid with high-quality block paving to create a joint-use footpath and cycleway. The number of traffic lanes will be unchanged on this side of the roundabout.

This stage of the project will also see the Harvey Walk footbridge, which spans the roundabout passing between the NCP car park and Holiday Inn, taken down.

Work to create a new surface-level footpath in its place will take place next year.

The scheme is part of the Connecting Leicester programme and is designed to create more attractive routes from the city centre to attractions like Castle Gardens, the Roman Jewry Wall and St Mary de Castro Church, which all lie outside the 1960s ring road.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: "The improvement work around St Nicholas Circle is progressing well.

"We now have a far more attractive route and entrance to Castle Gardens which is just a stone's throw from Jubilee Square.

"The new cycle lanes are a significant addition to the network and will make this busy junction much safer for cyclists.

"The programme of improvements will now be rolled out to the other side of the roundabout, before we finally carry out work to remove the eyesore Harvey Walk footbridge.

"Overall, this will help restore the links between the city centre and the historical area around Leicester Castle and Jewry Wall and help more people to discover this fascinating part of the city."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Final-works-start-improve-pedestrian-cycling/story-26820329-detail/story.html#ixzz3ekAgw3Ck 

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Project to paint Leicester's Golden Mile is completed

By atroughton  |  Posted: July 06, 2015

10435619-large.jpg
 

Golden Mile

 
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The latest stage of a project to brighten up shop fronts on Leicester's Golden Mile has been completed.

The Golden Mile Regeneration Project has already seen 35 shop fronts on Belgrave Road and Melton Road painted in brighter, bolder colours designed to reflect the cultural vibrancy of the area.

Architectural details have also been highlighted to enhance the look of the properties and make the area, a major gateway into the city, look as appealing as possible.

Three blocks of shops had already been completed as part of the project.

 

The most recent phase of work has seen five more shop fronts transformed.

Jogia Jewellers, on Belgrave Road, is one of the businesses which has benefited from the scheme.

Shop owner Jagdish Jogia said: "I'm very pleased with how the work had been completed, within a short timescale and with minimal disruption to the business."

Another business owner, Amisha Vadera, of Krishas Boutique, on Belgrave Road, was also pleased with the project.

He said: "The work has given a positive impression of the whole of the Belgrave Road.

"It is great that business owners have joined together to support the scheme."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby praised the project.

He said: "The Golden Mile is a unique part of Leicester's identity, so I'm really pleased we have been able to make this investment in the area.

"We have worked closely with local businesses to select colour schemes and improve the appearance of their premises. "The work we have done has been extremely well received. Not only does it make an instant visual impact, but it sends out the message that this a vibrant, thriving area that is open for business."

In total, approximately £19,000 has been spent on painting 40 shop fronts.

The city council has funded the majority of the work, with businesses also contributing to the cost.

The project is part of a wider initiative to improve key gateways into the city, with improvement projects carried out along Narborough Road, Braunstone Gate, Church Gate and Granby Street.

Funding for the improvements comes from the city council's capital programme budget.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Project-paint-Leicester-s-Golden-Mile-completed/story-26841361-detail/story.html#ixzz3f7meTcGq 

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City council to buy disused 1960s Vaughan College from University of Leicester for £300k

By danjmartin  |  Posted: July 09, 2015

10466339-large.jpg
 

Vaughan College

 

It has remained largely empty since.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said purchase would allow the council to refresh the museum – and make the most of its important location between the waterside regeneration area and the city centre.

He said it was not yet clear what would be done with the rest of the complex but said there were a lot of options.

He said: "Vaughan College is an excellent example of a building of its time, and is one of the very few city buildings from the 1960s to be listed.

"By bringing it into the city council's ownership, we will be able to think creatively about the entire building and look at the full potential of this site.

"It also gives us an opportunity to refresh our Jewry Wall museum, which – with its Roman masonry, mosaics and wall plasters – reflects such an important part of Leicester's history."

A council report into the purchase said some museum artefacts had been damaged in the past through water leaks because of a lack of maintenance.

The council has not said what was damaged but Sir Peter said he understood the items were "not of any great antiquity."

He added: "Although firm plans are yet to be made, we will be looking to improve access to the building and its links to the area around it.

"Its location, between the waterside regeneration area and the city centre, gives us an opportunity to create a significant new gateway that successfully links the two areas together – and that's something we'll be looking at.

"We're very grateful to the university for supporting our plans to revitalise this area of the city by selling the building to us – and we recognise that this deal indicates their strong commitment to the city."

VC2.jpg

 

 

A university spokesman said: "We are pleased that this listed building is now in public ownership and will contribute to the continuing regeneration of this historic quarter of Leicester city centre,"

"The building's location, adjacent to the nearly 2000-year-old Jewry Wall, makes it an integral part of the heritage of Leicester."

Detailed terms will now be agreed to complete the purchase of Vaughan College.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/City-council-buy-disused-1960s-Vaughan-College/story-26871641-detail/story.html#ixzz3fPPgye4o 

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