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LEICESTER | Full Summary of Projects

867K views 7K replies 172 participants last post by  Leicity82 
#1 ·
Official Leicester Thread

I looked for the old thread but I couldn't seem to find it. Now that I'm in Manchester I'll have to rely on this website to tell me about the current development situation in Leicester.

Come on guys, I need your help!
 
#101 ·
Does anyody know what they're doing to that street in Leicester that has Game and M&S on it. It looks like they're ripping up all the floor slabs and just tarmacking it. I hope its just temporary cause it looks a right mess at the minute.

Its the first time I'd been to Leicester for a while and I was literally shocked by that. At least the more important developments are progressing well.
 
#103 ·
TWO GIANT TOWERS COULD TRANSFORM CITY SKYLINE

Found this from the Leicester Mercury:

10:30 - 14 April 2006

Today the Mercury can reveal plans to build an exclusive 26-storey waterside tower block in Leicester, rivalling some of the best buildings in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Two giant towers - one 26 storeys high, the other 20 storeys - are being planned as part of a £60 million redevelopment next to the River Soar, in Bath Lane.

Called No.1 Westbridge, the 354-apartment complex is being described as a landmark building which would attract new businesses and investment to the city.

The developers boast that many of the apartments would have terraces bigger than most city gardens, while others would offer short-term studio accommodation for business people working in the city.

The towers would be joined at the base, with the lower floors filled with shops, bars and restaurants.

There would also be public squares and a riverside walkway linked to a new footbridge across the river.

Westbridge Living, the company behind the plans, has brought in Ian Simpson Architects to draw up the designs.

The practice, based in London and Manchester, has won numerous awards for its skyscrapers and was a semi-finalist in the competition to replace the World Trade Centre, in New York.

Westbridge director Ryan O'Neill said Ian Simpson's buildings had proved the catalyst for high-quality regeneration elsewhere - something Leicester and its waterside desperately needed.

He said: "Ian Simpson has a track record in setting the benchmark for high-quality living in city's such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds - cities which have seen major regeneration.

"I think we are 10 to 15 years behind other city centres, but things are slowly happening.

"We want to help bring in investment and grab hold of the emerging new market. The council wants a landmark building.

"It will be one of the tallest buildings in the city and in terms of the skyline will be equal in height to the cathedral.

"People who have lived in Leicester all their lives do not know that there are 12 miles of waterside through the city centre.

"No.1 Westbridge will build on the civic ambition of the city."

A planning application has been lodged with the city council and, pending public consultation, will take about 13 weeks to process.

If planning permission is granted, the development would be built in phases over four or five years, with the first contractors on site later this year.

The Bath Lane development would fit in with Leicester Regeneration Company and city council plans to transform the banks of the riverside between Castle Gardens and Abbey Park.

Architect Ian Simpson said: "The project will set the benchmark for high-quality design on the waterside.

"The scheme will provide a distinctive silhouette on the skyline, signal regeneration and create a real sense of place."

John Nicholls, chief executive of the Leicester Regeneration Company, said: "This is an exciting project by a major architect, and has great potential to build further the momentum of high-quality development on the waterside."

The planning application is being financed by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Regional director Tony Alexander said: "The redevelopment of the waterside is an important part of the regeneration of Leicester."
 
#104 ·
This is fantastic news, along with the redevelopments of Thames tower and St. George's tower if these towers are built it would even further establish Leicester's skyline as East Midlands no.1, and possibly the midlands second after Birmingham? Does anyone have any renders for the planned towers?

More updates from the Leicester Mercury:

No.1 Westbridge is the latest in a long list of multi-million-pound developments in Leicester.

Up to £80 million could be spent on 1,200 homes, a park and promenade on the BUSM factory site, Belgrave.

Work has begun on £65 million flats at Abbey Park and Leicester Regeneration Company has £300 million plans to transform Abbey Meadows into a science park.

Work is under way on the £50 million performing arts centre, in Rutland Street.

In the new business quarter, near the station, offices will create 600 to 900 jobs and there will be new apartments and a restaurant.

People are moving into a prestigious 1,000-home waterside development at Bede Island and Hammerson have begun work on the £350 million extension of The Shires.

Apartments are on the market at Westbridge Wharf, in Bath Lane, and the Metropolitan Housing Trust is advanced, with 350 homes at Leicester Square, Sanvey Gate.

Leicester City Council has also begun work on its £19 million Streets and Spaces project to improve the city centre.
 
#105 ·
So they finally decided to go public! Can't find anything on the developers though - they don't appear to have a website. Shame it's dropped from 28 to 26 floors though. Hope it also includes some "mezzanine" levels which don't appear to count as "floors" on planning applications.

Planning Application on LCC's website

What's the betting that a load of NIMBYs will pop up out of the woodwork :bash:



BG
 
#107 ·
I hope the architects get cracking soon so we can have a sneak. If it's well designed and the shadows the tower may cast are located well away from anyone's backyard I'd hope people would let it be and the city would attract more redelopement as it all starts to self-perpetuate.

I wonder what the nature of their objections are exactly, anyway???
:?
 
#109 ·
The council have announced a consultation on future tall structures in the city:

SUGGESTED criteria for future tall buildings in Leicester are to be the subject of a consultation exercise by Leicester City Council.

The draft guidelines call for consideration of a number of factors when deciding on planning applications. These include:

• architectural excellence

• effect on the local environment

• relationship to transport infrastructure

• sustainable design

• contribution to public spaces
While there is no formal national definition, the suggested guidelines define a tall building as one more than 25 metres in height, or one substantially higher than surrounding buildings, or a building which would make a visible impact on the skyline when viewed from key points in the city.

The guidelines acknowledge that while tall buildings could act as landmarks, stimulate regeneration, and strengthen the city’s image, they could also obstruct views, detract from historic buildings, and create large areas of shadow.

Suggested criteria for handling a proposal for a tall building are outlined, and the guidance calls for all planning applications to provide backup material to enable a proper assessment.

No attempt is made to specify appropriate locations for tall buildings.

The guidance will be made available for public inspection for a six-week period, starting on Monday, April 24th. It will be posted on the city council’s website at www.leicester.gov.uk/regenerationconsultation and responses can be sent to Richard Riley, Urban design Group, Regeneration and Culture, Leicester City Council, New Walk Centre, Welford Place, Leicester LE1 6ZG, telephone (0116) 252 7214, Mini-com: (0116) 252 7222 Fax: (0116) 247 1149 email: richard.riley@leicester.gov.uk
 
#111 ·
Yeah thanks again for those pics. But do you really think Victoria Halls are a landmark building? :uh:

I walked down Charles Street a few days ago and there's been a couple of buildings gutted there, and the airy spaces this has left between other buildings is quite 'atmospheric' in a dingy way ;) . Has anyone else noticed them?

Re: the proposed 26 floor tower - however tall it is let's be honest, Leicester isn't a dent on Manchester or Birmingham...Well, Manc atleast :p

Zep.
 
#112 ·
rusheyboy said:
The council have announced a consultation on future tall structures in the city:

SUGGESTED criteria for future tall buildings in Leicester are to be the subject of a consultation exercise by Leicester City Council.

The draft guidelines call for consideration of a number of factors when deciding on planning applications. These include:

• architectural excellence

• effect on the local environment

• relationship to transport infrastructure

• sustainable design

• contribution to public spaces
While there is no formal national definition, the suggested guidelines define a tall building as one more than 25 metres in height, or one substantially higher than surrounding buildings, or a building which would make a visible impact on the skyline when viewed from key points in the city.

The guidelines acknowledge that while tall buildings could act as landmarks, stimulate regeneration, and strengthen the city’s image, they could also obstruct views, detract from historic buildings, and create large areas of shadow.

Suggested criteria for handling a proposal for a tall building are outlined, and the guidance calls for all planning applications to provide backup material to enable a proper assessment.

No attempt is made to specify appropriate locations for tall buildings.

The guidance will be made available for public inspection for a six-week period, starting on Monday, April 24th. It will be posted on the city council’s website at www.leicester.gov.uk/regenerationconsultation and responses can be sent to Richard Riley, Urban design Group, Regeneration and Culture, Leicester City Council, New Walk Centre, Welford Place, Leicester LE1 6ZG, telephone (0116) 252 7214, Mini-com: (0116) 252 7222 Fax: (0116) 247 1149 email: richard.riley@leicester.gov.uk

CENTRE TO STAY
25 April 2006

Councillors have ruled out demolishing their New Walk base, but could still move to a new site in the city centre.

The council's New Walk Centre, where 1,400 people work, is in urgent need of repair and refurbishment.

Last night's meeting of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative cabinet ruled out demolishing the centre and building a new base on the same site because of cost and disruption.

However, councillors agreed to continue investigating the merits of refurbishing the building while also searching for a suitable site in the city centre for a new base.

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co....Node=132702&contentPK=14382578&folderPk=77465
 
#113 ·
For ****'s sake

:bash:
Leicester Mercury said:
TOWERS 'WOULD RUIN AREA'

BY LIZ CROWSON

10:30 - 27 April 2006

A petition has been launched to stop the construction of two high-rise buildings.

A planning application has been submitted to Leicester City Council to build towers of 22 and 27 storeys in Bath Lane, next to Grand Union Canal, in Leicester.

Leicester Civic Society, which launched the petition said the towers would be an eyesore and spoil the nearby Castle Gardens conservation area.

If given the go-ahead, the site would house 354 apartments, shops, a cafe and 362 parking spaces.

Ben Ravilous, from the civic society, said: "The developer has already imposed two large and out-of-place apartment blocks in Bath Lane.

"Already, these buildings detract from the view of the Jewry Wall Roman site, the Saxon church of St Nicholas, the 18th century houses in Talbot Lane and the tranquility of the canal area.

"A 27-storey building would be a disaster for the character and heritage of the area.

"Much of the redevelopment plan for Leicester is good - either adapting existing buildings, as with the St George's factory developments, or environmentally sound new builds such as the space-age low-rise proposal for Abbey Lane.

"We want to send the architects back to the drawing board to come up with a proposal for Bath Lane that enhances the character of the area."

Civic society chairman John Burrows said the city was already "littered" with high-rise buildings, including St George's Tower, the Holiday Inn and BT Cardinal House.

He said: "The buildings already at the site are visually obtrusive. They are the kind of thing that destroys the character of the conservation area.

"They will drown Jewry Wall and **** a snook at part of our past.

"The proposal is so totally out of context."

The proposed towers are part of a £60 million redevelopment of an area next to the joint course of the canal and River Soar.

The towers would be joined at the base, with the lower floors occupied by shops, bars and restaurants.

There would be public squares and a riverside walkway linked to a new footbridge across the river.

A spokeswoman for Westbridge Living, which is developing the site, said it would look at the issues raised in the petition.

A spokesman for Leicester City Council said: "The application is in the very early stages and we are in the consultation phase.

"No date has been set for it to go to committee."
Unfortunately Leicester will never develop beyond its "medieval past" if these fuckwits get their way. Funny how no-one complains when swathes of green belt land are consumed by these fucking warehouses increasing need for MORE car journeys and MORE pollution :bash:

I'm really really fucking annoyed :mad::weirdo::gaah::rant::ancient:

I'm adding my rant first thing tomorrow when the reader comments become active again. At least, thankfully, someone has got the right idea:
Ben Smith said:
This could be the best thing to ever happen in Leicester, these people need to get out of the dark ages and understand this city has to move forward. Leicester is a dull city at the minute, most people leave to lead exciiting lives in more ambitious cities elsewhere, we need an iconic skyline to help drive business and hope into the city.
Ben Smith, Narborough
 
#115 ·
Just commented on that story as well mate. It annoys me to. Leicester needs this development. How can they make an objection when CGI images have not even been generated yet?!?!? Leicester needs this development and I'm sure the council will listen to what they say but press ahead.
 
#116 ·
Yeah thanks for flagging that one up BG. Seems to have passed under the radar that one...unusual since I thought I had been following the Mercury quite closely waiting for something like it.

It's just such a shame that the views they have aren't even justified in an anti-corporate way (which is fair enough) or an eco-environment sense (also fair game) but based on pithy opinion like "oooH, 'twill spoil the view" - What? the ringroad? Real shame.

Z.
 
#117 · (Edited)
They can't exactly spoil the view OF the Jewry Wall, as you can't see it from anywhere outside the site :uh::bash: (except maybe you will from the new towers) or the view FROM the Jewry Wall as there is nothing AT ALL currently visible from this site, apart from some ugly 1960's buildings such as Vaughan College (right above the site) and the fucking hideous monstrosity called the Holiday Inn :eek:hno:

Another link to a related story (albeit a bit behind the times it may be worth making a few comments, to let people know Leicester does have supporters!)



.
 
#118 ·
Music to my ears!!!

Regeneration bosses revealed today that there is more redevelopment work under-way in Leicester than anywhere else in the country.

They said that in the next five years more than £3 billion would be spent transforming the city.

They say the investment will create new jobs and homes, improve quality of life and stimulate the local economy.

Today, the Leicester Mercury can also reveal plans by London developers H Group to invest another £100 million in 1,100 new homes alongside the River Soar and near Lee Circle.

John Nicholls, chief executive of the Leicester Regeneration Company, said: "Leicester has been a back-marker but is catching up fairly dramatically, which is why there's so much going on. We are riding a wave, and for regional cities of this size I can't think of anywhere else where there is this much regeneration underway.

"Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham have passed their peaks and we are taking over. As a fairly reliable estimate, we can say just over £3 billion is being invested."

His regeneration company alone is involved in 10 schemes - totalling £800imillion, and creating 2,000 new homes and 3,000 new jobs.

This time last year, the total city-wide spend was estimated at £2 billion. That has now risen by at least 50 per cent.

Major building projects taking place include the £50 million performing arts centre in Rutland Street and the £350 million Shires expansion.

There are also plans for a science park in Abbey Meadows and a new business district around Charles Street.

Major schemes include the £550 million transformation of De Montfort and Leicester Universities, a £42 million refurbishment of Leicester College, £230 million in a Building Schools for the Future project and £761 million of planned improvements to Leicester's three main hospitals.

In housing, Manchester and London-based architect Ian Simpson is designing a proposed £60million twin tower development along the River Soar.

H Group chairman Peter Mahoney wants to spend £66.6 million on a waterside residential development on the west of the city and more than £40 million on new homes near Lee Circle.

He said: "Leicester is a great city. It has some lovely parks and good shopping centres. And it's a city you can walk around.

"But Leicester struggles to retain students. We see things such as the waterside development as having the potential to overcome that."

Chris Brown, from Igloo Regeneration, also based in London and Manchester, is investing £50 million in schemes. He said: "We are really impressed by what is being done here."
 
#120 ·
I've been following the regeneration plans since its inception and there is definitely more of a buzz about all the building works now. Those towers for the waterfront are a MUST for development if Leicester is going to move forward at all in the next 30 years. I don't know where on earth the Leicester Civic Society has appeared from all of a sudden (where were you you toss*rs when the new Travel Lodge went up? Gala Casino? - wank*rs).

I had no idea this thread was set up - I found it on google looking for Ian Simpson architects (have a guess why!).

I think the next few years are exciting times for all of us...
 
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