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LEICESTER | Archive of past building plans (pre-2000) | built or unbuilt

11378 Views 77 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Leicity82, 
Leicity82
An interesting look at plans for buildings which have been built or which never came to fruition.

Cardinal Exchange early proposals c.1966:

See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=014565

Original plans for Thames Tower (1966):

See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=013722

Attenborough Tower plans at the University (approved in 1967):

Image from: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=016289

Approved plans for an 11 storey office building on the Elizabeth House site in 1972:

See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=024118

Original plans for Elizabeth House (1976):

See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=19760278

Original plans for 60 Charles Street (1969):

See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=018730

Unbuilt proposals for ‘twin towers’ approximately where Jubilee Square is:

See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=022131

What replaced Britannia Works on Granby Street (still there) c.1966:

Image from: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=014561

Original plans for the corner tower of The old International Hotel (1971):



See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=022063

Unbuilt approved plans (1978) for site where All Saints Village is currently being built on Vaughan Way:



See: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=19740770
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DBadger
Are there any that you'd like to have been built, or is this a case of lucky escapes?

Mind, it's always interesting to see how a lot of brutalism was designed because it's often the tacked on bits or the poor maintenance/cleaning that leads them to look bad.
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WOTZDA POINT
Nice thread - Smigielski and his concrete brutalist revolution. Top down development with the best intentions. But a change that went too far for many ! How things have stagnated since then though. Where is the vision these days ???? Too much ordinary, impoverished thinking determines todays developments. Bland days Indeed !

NB The first picture shows What Cardinal House could have looked like, not SGT - Glad they rejected it in favour of todays masterpiece in brutalist architecture.:)
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Leicity82
WOTZDA POINT said:
Nice thread - Smigielski and his concrete brutalist revolution. Top down development with the best intentions. But a change that went too far for many ! How things have stagnated since then though. Where is the vision these days ???? Too much ordinary, impoverished thinking determines todays developments. Bland days Indeed !

NB The first picture shows What Cardinal House could have looked like, not SGT - Glad they rejected it in favour of todays masterpiece in brutalist architecture.:)
Click to expand...

My bad!

Agree about lack of vision nowadays.
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Leicity82
DBadger said:
Are there any that you'd like to have been built, or is this a case of lucky escapes?
Click to expand...


I’d have preferred the previous proposals for the Elizabeth House site.

The ‘twin towers’ would have looked good, but not where they were proposed.
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Dame37
https://instagram.com/p/Baiv4n6DwgR/
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Lears City
The big one that Leicestershire County Council refused, was for the National Exhibition Centre!
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Lears City
Also, another non-build (in various guises) was the Leicester Civic Centre.

In the 1930s, a grand avenue was planned for what is now Waterloo Way. Can't find the sketch at present. Here is the interior of the planned Civic Centre.


The terrible version in the 1960s
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Leicity82
It’s very rare to see that aerial view of the proposed civic centre.
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Lears City
The view of what Waterloo Way may have looked like, in a 1943 plan has sadly been taken down by the Leicester Mercury. Would have been much nicer and grander than the 1960s plan.
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Lears City
Found it:
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Leicity82
Lears City said:
Found it:
Click to expand...
Thanks. Is possible to ask where you found it?

No doubt it would have been an impressive collection of buildings.
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Lears City
On Facebook...Leicester Born and Bred Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/798008080213402/

Just search for "Civic"

It would have definitely been better than Waterloo Way. It would be perfect for Belgrave Gate :)
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Leicity82
Lears City said:
On Facebook...Leicester Born and Bred Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/798008080213402/

Just search for "Civic"
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Pity you need to be a Facebook member to access the page.
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Lears City
Some of the Leicester history groups on Facebook are excellent.
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Leicity82
Not really plans, but a parade in 1953 to commemorate the Queen’s Coronation, especially showing how the area around the Clock Tower (including Haymarket/Belgrave Gate) used to look:

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Leicity82
Photo of the original Lee Circle Tesco and petrol station (1963):

Image from: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=007749
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Leicity82
Offices between the Secular Hall and the former Vestry Hall (demolished to maje way for Vestry House) flats on Humberstone Gate:

Image from: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=022294

The building we see today being built with St Margaret’s Vestry Hall still standing:

Image from: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/505...zEQ46SsKVmdknXMAb8V0XvWrSFgxLn4sR5BOPDs6G3pyP

View when complete:

Image from: https://pin.it/csousuyglqm7lc

Scene today:

Image from Google Streetview.
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Lears City
It is depressing to see the huge number of fine buildings Leicester has lost.

What a fine old building!

I wonder what was demolished when the office block to the right was built?
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Leicity82
Original drawings for Cardinal Exchange! :) :


Images from planning application (from 1972): http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=025185
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