Proposal to Convert Vacant Offices into Apartments in Leicester Conservation Zone

Three unoccupied office buildings situated in a “desolate” section of Leicester city centre have been designated for residential conversion. An application requesting approval to transform the properties, located at the junction of Grey Friars and Friar Lane, near Leicester Cathedral, into 62 new residences, has been submitted to Leicester City Council. These structures, two of which are listed, stand on the former site of the Franciscan Friary within the Greyfriars conservation area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Developers stated that the buildings were “falling into disrepair” and that the conservation area was in “significant need of revitalisation”. Developer Quantum Capital Ventures Ltd has presented a plan that would see a substantial portion of the buildings converted into one and two-bedroom apartments, the LDRS reported. The company indicated that the vacant offices had “clearly been subject to neglect, vandalism, and anti-social behaviour” over the years. It added that these buildings, along with other empty properties nearby, have fostered a perception that the area is “desolate, stagnant, and in significant need of revitalisation”. A roof extension to create nine of the proposed flats has been put forward as part of the plans, with the developer asserting its necessity to make the project “financially viable”. The ground floor of one of the properties is intended to remain as offices and storage space, and bicycle storage facilities would be included for the apartments. The project would also involve the removal of “unsympathetic” features that have been added to the buildings over the years, thereby revealing the “historic fabric” of the building which is currently hidden. A public consultation on these plans is scheduled to conclude on 16 January, with the city council expected to render a decision in March.