Terracotta coloured metal cladding would wrap around the site
The buildings, next to the historic station, are mostly single-storey red brick units(Image: LeicestershireLive)
A derelict Leicester site could get a new lease of life as a cinema or craft brewery as part of ongoing regeneration plans. Developers want to furnish an abandoned steel frame on Great Central Street and turn it into six business units.
The development could bring shops, cafes, restaurants, gyms or offices to the site alongside the potential cinema or brewery. Applicant Davenport Developments (Leicester) Limited has submitted plans to Leicester City Council for the scheme.
The steel skeleton has stood empty since office plans for the site fell through. Demolition work had already started on the former MOT garages and car repair workshops before the project was abandoned, leaving just the frame behind.
The new design takes inspiration from the area’s Victorian railway heritage. Terracotta coloured metal cladding would complement the traditional red brickwork of the nearby Great Central Railway Station buildings, while maroon and brown panels would highlight the entrances.
A row of industrial buildings next to Leicester’s history Great Central Railway Station were demolished(Image: LeicestershireLive)
The site sits within the Waterside Regeneration Area, close to the locally listed railway station. Each of the six single-storey units would have a street-facing office area with accessible toilets.
Five parking spaces, including one disabled space, and 12 covered cycle spaces would be provided. Access would be from Salisbury Road Backways to the rear.
Public consultation on the proposal runs until Thursday, January 16, with a target decision date set for Monday, March 10.
More information is available on the Leicester City Council planning portal under application reference 20251660.