“Thanks for putting me right on the Listing issue, Red. The old brewery does for part of the boundary wall for the listed All Sainst Church and forms part of the context for the listed buildings at 107 and 109 Highcross Street. It is a key feature of the conservation area. Leicester's conservation areas have just been identified as at risk by English Heritage. If you go to the rear of All Saints Church and look around you will see that this collection of buildings is indeed a gem - a quiet idyll in the midst of the city. There are proposals to demolish some of the buildings and with them the boundary to the listed beautiful church to be replaced by a new, much lower, one. This would change the conservation area to its detriment.”

“Yes, it is the former All Saints Brewery but it is not listed, and is unlikely to be so as it has been drastically altered over the years.

I don't know if I would call it "a gem" either, although it's not without some archutectural merit, and, obviously, of some historical importance. It would, of course, make a great place, for a contemporary art gallery, cafe, etc. Something Leicester needs in that area, but as I understand it the asking price is astronomical. Clearly the owners would prefer it fell down and because it is not listed the council has few options to force them to do anything.”

“So another of Leicester's 'heritage' landmarks, a listed building in the All Saints conservation area, subject to an opposed planning application, catches fire. From the photo it looks like this is the case as the building shown looks like the historic All Sainst Brewery, parts of which date back to the 18th Century.

Leicester wake up and look after what is left of the gems in your midst.”