LEICESTER | De Montfort University development masterplan | £170 million | ongoing

[Leicity82]

Nice to see some greenery in the new Piazza too, along with a water feature.

[Lears City]

It would be good to know if there are any plans to bring the Magazine building back into use. I remember visiting the Regimental Museum when I was younger, which used to be housed in the building. The Magazine has been shut for years now - and it is scanadlous! Like the nearby Leicester Castle, this is an empty Grade I listed building...

[Leicity82]

Apparantly both the castle great hall and magazine are still on the English Heritage 'At Risk' register (came out this week).

Another example of a lack of foresight.

[jaybob]

Great renders and pictures. Nice to see that they plan to plant trees alongside the main road. Will bring a bit of much needed greenery to that stretch of road.

[d4mo85]

Wahey! They look brilliant, I hope the greenery is sculptured in the way it's shown to be on those renders. DMU will look much more like a proper Uni once this is finished - I can tell you all of the staff are beyond chuffed with all of the Uni's development plans

As for the Magazine.. well I can't be sure, but apparently you won't be able to walk through it from one side to the other due to it being in such a delicate state. Not sure how accurate that is, coming from a staff member at DMU, but I do hope it's not true.

[Leicity82]

I thought that one of the main objectives was so that people could walk though the arches again?

[jaybob]

Can confirm that they have fenced off the arch next to the road. The crossing is to the side. You will still be able to walk through but will have to thun 90 degrees to your right and then go to the crossing. There is a couple of meters gap between the railings and the Gateway. Presume they are worried that the amount of footfall through the arch may be a problem. No news on if it will be reopened to the public. Also there is currently and archaelogical dig on site in an area close to the road.

[Lears City]

I can't understand why re-opening the Magazine was not a condition of approving the School of Business and Law plans?

[Leicity82]

The Magazine MUST be brought back into use. Or else, like many other Leicester historic buildings, it will be an issue of 'you can look, but not come in'.

[d4mo85]

But what if it's current state dictates that we mustn't use it Leicity82? We don't know how badly damaged the building is.. or if it CAN be repaired for public use.

I'd rather have it standing, than being used and slowly falling down. Either way, the Magazine will always be an iconic landmark for that area of the city and indeed Leicester as a whole.

[Lears City]

I've seen crumbled heaps renovated into family homes on the telly. Of course the Magazine could be brought back into use. The Council just doesn't have the inclination to sort out this sort of thing...

[Leicity82]

It's a strong building and it was the road around it if anything that has caused cracks to form in its 3ft + walls. If a building is in use then that is seen as some reassurance that it will be well maintained.

Two of the main medieval buildings in Leicester: Magazine and Castle Hall are still on the 'at risk' register and empty.

[Lears City]

The Magazine is more difficult to find a use for, but the fact that the Castle Great Hall lies empty, is disgusting...

[Leicity82]

Updated time-lapse view of the construction of the new business and law building from Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25322797@N08/2757023348/

[Leicity82]

Proposed new Medical Centre on Grasmere Street. Approved in June 2007, though resubmitted for revised matters this month:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planni...AppNo=20070491

and

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planni...AppNo=20081542

Here are some rough images from the application documents:

[Leicity82]

Nice slide show renders/sketches of the Law and Business building development on the DMU website:

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/busin...law/new_build/

[jrawle]

Originally Posted by Leicity82

Nice slide show renders/sketches of the Law and Business building development on the DMU website:

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/busin...law/new_build/

I didn't realise the new building was going to be so near the Magazine Gateway. It does look like it'll rather overshadow it. Also I like the way the ring road is covered in pedestrians in the artist's impressions, almost as if it's semi-pedestrianised. Where are the big lorries that now pass centimetres from the historic building?

[Leicity82]

Yes traffic is going to be close to the Magazine still, perhaps even closer than before. One of the major drawbacks of an irreversible 60s mistake.

[g2]

While i was in favour of the new square/walkway up to the magazine from the west there really isn't room for 4 lanes of traffic beside the magazine the other side.

Is the corner of the new building next to the magazine going to be curved or not? There seems to be some confusion from that DMU link above.

[d4mo85]

Originally Posted by g2

While i was in favour of the new square/walkway up to the magazine from the west there really isn't room for 4 lanes of traffic beside the magazine the other side.

Is the corner of the new building next to the magazine going to be curved or not? There seems to be some confusion from that DMU link above.

I believe it will be curved - the original drawings showed angled corners and then it was updated.

It's really coming along quickly though, the work-rate is incredible.. who are these builders? We must use them for other projects!