New development for site of Leicester's New Walk Centre revealed
A new development combining office space, shops and homes has been revealed for the site of the former Leicester City Council offices at New Walk Centre.
Local developer Ingleby has been chosen to transform the two-acre site at the junction of New Walk, Welford Road and Belvoir Street.
Initial designs for the new development include two buildings up to five storeys high, with a central tree-lined public square linked to New Walk, and an open thoroughfare connecting the development to Welford Road.
Between them the two buildings will provide 50,000 sq ft of office space, private housing, and a small amount of retail space.
Developers Ingleby will now work with Leicester City Council and go through the formal planning permission process.
Demolition firm DSM brought down the crumbling 1970s New Walk Centre office blocks in February 2015, and are currently clearing the site to be handed over in late May 2015.
Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor, said: "This area of land is a prime development site in the heart of the city and I was determined from the outset that New Walk Centre would be replaced with a development which would be beneficial to the surrounding businesses."
"I’m very pleased with the proposals put forward by Ingleby. They are a local firm which have been involved in a number of successful projects in the city already, such as redevelopment of the former British Gas headquarters in Regent Road.
"They were also responsible for submitting the original planning application for the extension to Highcross.
"The proposals for the New Walk Centre site strike the right balance of mixing residential and business use with open space, and will include buildings of a much more sympathetic scale to the surrounding area.
"We will of course be working closely with Ingleby to ensure that this important site is redeveloped in a way which brings economic benefits to the area and the city as a whole."