Plans for office district near to Leicester railway station are shelved
Plans to create a major office district close to Leicester railway station aimed at attracting hundreds of jobs have been shelved.
Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said setting up an office quarter in and around St George's Way was no longer a priority.
Instead, the mayor has backed proposals to develop high-quality offices on two plots of land on the other side of city, in Vaughan Way.
It comes after a study set up by Sir Peter identified sites which could be built on much sooner.
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An office quarter close to the station formed a key part of the city's regeneration masterplan when it was launched 10 years ago.
However, the presence of the St George's Blue Tower and the Royal Mail sorting depot have held back re-development.
Sir Peter said: "I believe the council has been too restrictive in trying to direct office development into a particular part of the city in a way that means opportunities could have been missed.
"We have seen too much concentration on that area.
"However, the area around the train station still has enormous prospects, simply because businesses say access to the Midland Mainline is a major attraction."
The two plots in Vaughan Way – one near its junction with Great Central Street and the other at the junction with Highcross Street – are jointly owned by developers Sowden Group, of Leicester, and Loughborough's William Davis.
The study, carried out by property professionals, found the two sites, as well as Leicester Science Park, off Abbey Lane, should be priorities when it came to creating new office space in the city.
"What was interesting is that people who have a stake in some of the land are very positive about the prospects for development," said Sir Peter. "They are the ones who have to judge what the market forces are in Leicester."
The focus on Vaughan Way brought some concern from business leaders at an event to reveal the findings of the study, held at the city's Colton Square.
Speaking at the event, Duncan Green, partner at architecture firm Pick Everard, in Charles Street, Leicester, said: "These sites are on the wrong side of the ring road. Access to the station is very important."
Comments
by Armyoldsweat
Sunday, December 09 2012, 5:11PM
“As an ageing Leicester lad born and bred, reading these views really depresses me. 'This should be done, that should be done, the other should be done'. Always something that should be done by OTHERS!' For crying out loud have any of you tried doing something about it yourselves? The answer is probably no. From a poor family I left school in 1947 barely able to read or write. With nothing established a successful business. Remember all you moaners, YOUR life and YOUR city is what YOU make it.”
by kamilla1960
Sunday, December 09 2012, 11:27AM
“Vaughan Way - Office space, now then if you take a walk around the area, just count how much Office space is empty ( and has been for years), and how much has been demolished - because it wasn't being used. We are thinking of building more? Office space..... Council Office Space? Not too far from the other eyesore in the City.
Its a trek for people to get from the Station to Vaughan Way - unless we're going to have Rickshaws, we could always put the tram system back in, have the tram station next to the Railway station, knock down the Blue Elephant - like we should have done.”
by joe-bloggs
Sunday, December 09 2012, 11:06AM
“A few grand here .A few million there.count von count petes legasyto live with us for years .
I am still awaiting for someone to tell all of us where the gum removal has worked in Leicester.Small money in ego petes plans.
Only £2k a week,for 3 years!”
by democrat
Sunday, December 09 2012, 10:56AM
“Sir Peter is only seeking quick fixes
He does not understand business because he has never worked in it.
Teacher
Councillor
MP
Mayor
No business exprience. No vision. No hope.”
by bruno1
Sunday, December 09 2012, 10:19AM
“So the council spent thousands on researching what was best for the city and where to locate an office area, close to the train station. Peter Soulsby now wants to dismiss this research as it isn't possible to get a quick fix and quick signs of a recovery to make him look good. Does he not remember the office developments at Vaughan way that were built in the 70's and were never filled? I know lets just repeat history and not learn from it.”
by LewisC109
Friday, December 07 2012, 10:22PM
“pete with his magic pot yet again”
by oldhenry
Friday, December 07 2012, 2:56PM
“They will soon be converted into night clubs or student lets. the only 'businesses' that, apparently, Leicester people want, or need!”
by joe-bloggs
Friday, December 07 2012, 1:18PM
“democrat..you are wrong.the bloke has had at least one job .he was a financial advisor to gordon brown!
maybe not on c.v!”
by democrat
Friday, December 07 2012, 12:44PM
“This demonstrates the underlying flaws in the thinking of Sir Peter Soulsby and his vision for the future of Leicester.
Sir Peter has no commercial or business experience at even a junior level. He has never made anything. He has never sold anything. He has never fixed anything. He has never provided a service to anyone (other than serving himself, his party and his cronies who are equally inexperienced). His career experience is empty of any understanding of how business works and more importantly he is stuck in a time warp where he imagines that the future is like the past where legions of office workers strive away taking and making calls, keying in data and generally shuffling paper around all day (rather like the Council still is).”
by davidh11
Friday, December 07 2012, 11:50AM
“How many £££££'s does SPS waste? WE need there chief executive back, she didn't waste money like this!”