One of the largest private regeneration projects in Leicester, to encompass the whole site of Wolsey Island in Abbey Meadows. The site is attractive and surrounded by the river, canal and Abbey Park and at the northern most tip the site is in an almost rural-like setting.

Link: 'The Shoe Box' website (http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/theshoefactory/default.aspx)

Phase 1 had started with the conversion of a former factory into apartments called 'The Shoe Box', which shall have a unique curved frontage:

http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/01.jpg http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/02.jpg http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/03.jpg
Source: Pearmain Developments website

Later phases are to include wonderful new buildings, including a landmark building at the tip of the island:

http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/05.jpg http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/09.gif http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/27.jpg http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/26.jpg

http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/28.jpg
Source: Pearmain Developments website

The latter renders are not final image renders for the last phase of the development.

arent these the same as the waterside projects posted the other day?

Yes, but this is in detail-the other thread is to encompass all waterside developments, especially as the waterside masterplan announcement is imminent. Each of the Abbey park developments deserve a thread of their own as they are all massive developments.

Yes, but this is in detail-the other thread is to encompass all waterside developments, especially as the waterside masterplan announcement is imminent. Each of the Abbey park developments deserve a thread of their own as they are all massive developments.

rs06 I've included this thread in the index, but I must say that the Pearmain plans do warrant separate threads. Like you say they all individual "massive developments".

There is justification for the follwing threads. Let me know what you think?

Shoe Factory | U/C
Phase Two Abbey Meadows
Phase Three Abbey Meadows
Swan Nest Weir
The Water Tower

We already have threads for MHT and Morris Homes in that area and could also add BUSM Works and Wolsey Island to the list too.

Anything else I've missed in the area?

That's sounds good. However I encopmpassed all three together, for now, as not much information has been given about the subsequent phases after 'The Shoe Box' development - maybe seperate threads later on?

Thanks for adding the threads to the index, I'm sure there will be more to come! :)

This is what was originally proposed for the site of the current 'Shoe Box' development:

http://www.metropolis-architecture.com/images/imgs/abbey_big1.jpg
Source: Metropolis Architects website

However, this is what will be on the same site shown above:
http://www.metropolis-architecture.com/images/imgs/nov2006/abbey/view3.jpg
Source: Metropolis Architects website

I'm abit confused as the first render above is included with the render for phase 3 on the architect's website:

http://www.metropolis-architecture.com/images/imgs/abbey_big2.jpg
Source: Metropolis Architects website

The scheme was/ is to be called 'Abbey Warf'?

Have a look at the architect's website and see if any of you can make any sense of it?

Metropolis Architects website (http://www.metropolis-architecture.com/home.htm)

i prefer the round one, but they both look crap at the front, is this the best architects can come up with for leicester

They're slightly better than some of the boxy same old buildings. But I know what you mean braunstone. It would be great if they would build something a bit more daring.

Something abit more like the neighbouring MHT scheme perhaps? I think they were resticted because of planning guidelines?

Diagram of the next phase after 'The Shoe Factory'?:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/43.gif
Source: Pearmain (the Shoe Factory) website

exciting, ground breaking stuff these architects keep coming up with for leicester, dont u think

God what a boring design - it could be in any city in Europe - nothing distinctive about it whatsoever. The planning committee will allow it because they only know one word: "approved". Then it'll become slum council housing within 10 years because the flats bubble will pop.

Don't be fooled into thinking having Yes Men on the planning committee is a good thing as it will encourage more projects - It could actually undermine the work of Leicester Regeneration Company (whose projects on the whole DO need a firm "Yes") and give us a new generation of crap buildings like the 60s/70s. Just look at Victoria Hall on Southgates (personally approved by Ross Wilmott I heard).

Is the already-converted one really called 'The Shoe Box'? - are they taking the piss out of the tenants or what? How about The Sardine Tin?!

Talking of daring developments, what the hell happened to this?:-

http://www.thomasfish.co.uk/images/partners/abbey.jpg

On balance, probably worth losing the charming 30s former Bus Depot buildings and the Art Deco building on the street for something as bold as this but the last I heard the developers had applied to hold car boot sales there whilst they 'assessed options'. I bet we get offered something as dull as Leicester Squares and I bet the planning committe agree to it.

I agree Bravil, I’m think the “shoe Box” building is really un-ambitious considering the Abbey Park / River location.

I wonder why they didn't go with the new build round building?

Because of the shaky state of the housing market? Because the market for flats has been dampened by too many poor-quality developments that the council have said yes to?

What is particularly sad about this is that they've gone and smashed most of the bus depot now so we've got the worst of both worlds. We've lost a usable building with character and gained another bomb site. Same thing happened with the Spread Eagle pub on Charles Street, and also the place next to the Foister building and down York Street.

Yes what is happening to all those developments, especially the one next to the Foister building? Also, what is to become of the land on the corner of Blackbird Road/Abbey Park/St Margaret's Way - is that where the new Audi showroom is going to be?

I think you're getting your wires crossed here. The Pearmain second phase sits behind the Shoe Box and was always designed to mirror the box style develped for phase one. The phases after will be curvy, or at least should be.

The City bus depot site isn't pearmain but Metropolitan I recall, the same people as did the vaughan way building. They haven't submitted detailed plans so at this stage they are still to be like the greenish building pictured above.

Yes it will be built by the Metropolitan Housing Trust.

It will hopefully be built by the Metropolitan Housing Trust.


BG

True.

i was going to call leicester a 2nd rate city a minute ago, but its not even that. the designs for some of the developments are shocking, and the good ones turn out cheap and look an eyesore.

id reccomend a nite out in liverpool and belfast, cos wen the sun goes down on both cities and the docks light up you wonder why the hell anyone chooses to buy a house in leicester at all. i wouldnt, why would i commit to a city that for the whole of life has promised crap and not even delivered that.

oh and simpsons towers, go to leeds and manchester and liverpool etc, theyve all got there own simpsons towers, just bigger and better looking designs

thank fuck i dont do commitment, cos if i dont get in the army, im out of here, im not waiting around for more broken promises and dreams from the council.

leicester is never going to be any good in my life time, nothing changes, it just gets more depressing.

theres a program on tv tonite on the inside out program about leicester and the last 30 years, watch it, il bet nothing great has happened

except i was born

Which other places would you rank as third rate (or lower) then?

I think quite a lot of good things have happened in Leicester in the last 30 years - which I never thought would happen. Still a long way to go though...

I'd rather live here than most places in the UK. The problem is that our country is pretty naff and we have to work hard to get in up to scratch!

I am drawn to the really big cities as well (not including Belfast which is not a big city), but there are only a few that are much bigger and brighter than Leicester.

I agreed with Braunstone Geezer - i think we're getting the architectural equivalent of hand-me-downs. We have given developers the impression that Leicester is a blank slate where they can stick any old rubbish up.

Even the Homer Simpson Towers (d'oh!) are the cheapest possible clone of other designs he has created elsewhere. The 'designs' that were bandied about looked over-glamourised to say the least and the fact that they applied for each tower separately looks like hedging of bets rather than a sincerely conceived plan. I'm not even convinced they'll ever get built with the current housing market and I still think they would be far better located near the railway (better for a hotel - something Leicester Regeneration Company were concerned about if you read their board minutes) instead of shoe-horned into Bath Lane next to just about every historical building the city has ever had.

Ah well - at least we still have nice parks and the canal

I used to think along the same lines as yourself and Braunstone Geezer .. but the recent surge of development has changed all that, it may not be the best possible but it's a lot more than I ever would have expected given Leicester's recent history.

There has also been a significant change in attitude of a lot of people, especially younger folk. Leicester has always been introvert, people just didn't TALK to each other, in the street, on the buses, even in pubs, unless you were previously acquainted. This created a cache-22 situation :(

People appeared to walk around with blinkers on, just minding their own business.

This is certainly not the case in many other towns and cities and has been changing for the better here during the past couple of years. People just seem to be more open!

I wonder how much of this can be attributed to Leicester's apparent new lease of life brought about by all this regeneration and effective self-promotion of the city we inhabit?


BG

Leicester is a great city and getting better. Cheer up!

i hope so, cos i hate coventry and hull and id put leicester between them,

sorry coventry and hull

I don't think friendliness of the people is in any doubt. As to whether regeneration has had any part to play in this I dunno. What regeneration has actually been completed so far?

I'd say the growth of the universities, the increase in bars and pubs and the steady integration of the races is all playing its part. I think people are beginning to see the goodness in what they already have. Like BG 101 says this could become a virtuous circle.

By the way, Braunstone Geezer, is BG101 your alter ego? I only ask because I had this mate who used to write spoof letters to the Mockery under one name then write contradictory ones under a different persona!

Of course it's not. There's no way BG is smart enough to pull off something like that.

Or, at least that's what he wants you to think ;)

I categorically deny being related in any way to Braunstone Geezer !! Though this is not intended to be taken in a derogatory sense at all, as I love reading Braunstone Geezer's posts.

By the way, I live in Westcotes :)


BG

oh, and westcotes aint a million miles from braunstone
bg101

im not bg101, but i think i got multiple personalities.

i dont know about regenration yet, the poorer people i know seem to be getting poorer and the wealthier seem to be getting wealthier but everyone i know have one thing in common, they all seem to moan about loads of personal debt, but thats there fault surely?

Went pass the other day and looks like the external facade is nearly finished. Looks great :D,

http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/theshoefactory/gallery/large/01.jpg

Once the other developments along abbey park road are complete, it will look fantastic. I think its just the interior left to do.

Phase 1 of the Shoe Box Factory is complete and now it is PHASE 2:

Phase II
29th January 2007


The Shoe Factory is soon to be joined by a complimentary development to its north. A stunningly contemporary new–build scheme of 50 residential apartments on four/five stories will be appearing soon.

Designs have been prepared by an overseas architectural practice that will provide a sister development to The Shoe Factory.

The scheme will comprise spacious one and two-bed apartments with an open–plan interior, sleek modern interiors and fittings.

http://www.theshoefactory.co.uk/images/news/image05_large.jpg

so far so good with phase 1, looks great!

Oh and next to this is the Morris homes development, a few boards have gone advertising the devlopment and the site is all cleared so this could eventually spring up as well.

Let's hope work starts soon and doesn't end up taking years!

time flys fast!

Just found this on the morris homes website:

Abbey Quarter (Summer 2008) - Leicester, Leicestershire

A major development of apartments and penthouses overlooking Abbey Park in Leicester city centre. The studio, one and two bedroom apartments are designed in four separate buildings. Many will include private balconies and some underground parking will be available. Buyers will find a vibrant nightlife and a huge range of shops on their doorstep including the city’s famous indoor and outdoor markets

http://www.morrishomes.co.uk/_client_cache/images/developments/590df084-7b95-4147-9baa-5f69d417ab0e_133.jpg

Will certainly add to the density of abbey park road along with the Thomas Fish development which will compromise of 700 flats.

What's the latest on those Thomas Fish (bus depot) apartments? Last I heard there was a wrangle over the eco-friendly aspect of the scheme beside the river (scheme by Zed factory).