- Central
- 24 updates
Leicester's New Walk towers topple in amazing controlled explosion
Leicester's New Walk Towers have been razed to the ground in an incredible controlled explosion this morning - find all the 'buiild up' and the 'blow down' here >>>
Live updates
Slow motion video of Leicester New Walk Centre controlled collapse
The clear up operation is underway today after the demolition of two tower blocks in Leicester.
It took just thirteen seconds for the former city council offices on New Walk to come down in a controlled explosion.
- ITV Report
Demolition Day: The towers controversial from the start
Advertisement
- Jane Hesketh
Destruction day for Leicester's New Walk Centre
Thousands of people watched Leicester's skyline change forever this morning as two council office blocks were dramatically demolished.
It took just 13 seconds for the former headquarters of the city council to be razed to the ground, as Jane Hesketh reports.
Aerial photos show Leicester's demolition dust-cloud
Watch Leicester demolition from 4 camera positions
This video shows the dramatic destruction of Leicester City Council's former headquarters in New Walk from four different angles.
Thousands of people turned out to watch the 13 and eight storey towers turn to rubble in just 13 seconds this morning.
The 40 year old buildings were declared structurally unsafe in 2010, and the prime city centre site will now be redeveloped.
Aerial before & after of New Walk Centre demolition
Advertisement
What the public thought about New Walk in 1975
When Leicester City Council bought the newly built New Walk Centre in 1975 for £5million, there was public outcry in the city.
The country was just emerging from a deep two year recession, and inflation was soaring. A newspaper poll found 97% of people in the city were against the council spending the money on its new lavish home.
Reporting for ATV, Bob Warman asked people whether they thought the modern massive building was a masterpiece or a monstrosity.
Leicester's 'Demolition Day' in facts and figures
- Both the towers were demolished in 13 seconds.
- Seven cameras (including a drone) recorded the demolition.
- 25 Police officers were on site and the police helicopter was also in use.
- It will take between 3 and 4 months to clear the site ready for developers to take over.
'Apocalypse' Leicester's dust covered deserted streets
These eerie photographs were sent in by Leigh Spencer, who filmed this morning's blast from Leicester's Pocklingtons Walk.
Back from the dead: New Walk rises from the rubble!
As a bit of fun we've reversed this morning's dramatic demolition - so you can watch Leicester's New Walk Centre rise from the rubble!
Latest ITV News reports
-
Demolition Day: The towers controversial from the start
The dust has settled & New Walk is no more - Chris Halpin looks back on Leicester's toppled towers which proved controversial from the start
-
It's #DemolitionDay in Leicester - send us your videos!
Tweet us your pictures using the hashtag #DemolitionDay, as the New Walk Centre in Leicester disappears from the city's skyline forever.