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Work on a new access road at Abbey Meadows has been completed, opening up Leicester Science Park for development. The road, between Abbey Lane and Exploration Drive, will provide access to the two science park sites and the National Space Centre. The first of the two sites will see a £60 million development that will create 1,000 jobs in the city in science-based ventures accommodated on seven acres of fully-serviced development plots ready for in-coming companies. The land is owned by emda and interest from potential occupants is already strong. An adjoining private development will include offices, a car showroom and riverside housing. As a whole, Leicester Science Park covers 16 acres. It comprises two sites – the former council depot owned by emda and the Council owned John Ellis School site. Both sites have planning permission for science uses and have been cleared for development. John Nicholls, Chief Executive of Leicester Regeneration Company said: “Leicester Science Park is now happening, with the infrastructure in place for development to start, and advanced talks in place for potential occupants. “The National Space Centre has been extremely supportive of this project and their landmark building will provide an exciting backdrop for the new businesses that we expect to see moving into the science park next year.” Leicester Science Park sits within Abbey Meadows, one of the five key areas in Leicester Regeneration Company’s masterplan for the regeneration of the city. Work is now advancing on site in all five areas. More than £3 billion is forecast to be invested over the next few years. At Wolsey Island, work is nearing completion on work to restore Boston House, a former 1920s shoe factory. The £5.4 million development will see the sympathetic restoration of the building into 44 loft-style apartments to be called The Shoe Factory. On a site next door, Morris Homes are completing clearance of their site for 305 apartments, with construction expected to start early this year. The scheme is the second to start at Wolsey Island, an area that has the capacity for 2,000 new homes. To support developer activity in the area, Leicester City Council has started work in environmental improvements to the riverside and on Abbey Meadows Lane, on the western side of the site. The work has been funded from the Government’s New Growth Point allocation. In the New Business Quarter, work on One Colton Square is complete, with occupiers already moved in, and Two Colton Square is well underway. Developer Goodman is creating 50,000 square feet of office space and a restaurant on a site that incorporates the Grade II listed former Charles Street Police Station. Work is set to complete next autumn. City and Thames are due to complete 40 apartments on the same site this year. Work to lay granite paving on Bath Lane and High Street, as part of Leicester City Council’s Streets and Spaces programme, has begun. High Street is being pedestrianised. At the Waterside, work has started on Cirrus Property’s Blackfriars Development. The development will bring over 600 apartments with shops, cafes and restaurants. High quality granite paving is being laid on Bathe Lane, using Government New Growth Point funding, in support of the new housing that is being developed in the area. Archaeological investigations are on going at No1 Westbridge, the trio of hotel and apartment towers designed by world famous architect Ian Simpson. When completed the towers will the tallest in the East Midlands. In Northern St Georges, Lee Circle Exchange have started work on converting the Telereal building on Wharf Street in to 129 apartments – the first residential development in this key project area for some time. At Highcross Leicester, the frontage of the extended Shires shopping centre has been revealed as scaffolding has been removed from the building along Vaughan Way. Construction of the new car park for the centre has now reached full height. The development is set to open next autumn. Work is
underway
on the
development
of 120
one and
two-bedroom
apartments
on the
same site.
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