Empty shops to be demolished for Leicester green link
A £3.5m pocket park and walkway connecting two city-centre squares has been approved by planning officers.
The Maber-designed scheme will see existing shops demolished to make way for a “substantial” green space connecting Green Dragon Square with St Martin’s Square, with added paved areas for street food vendors, and a children’s adventure park.
Around £1m of funding for the project will come from central government, Leicester City Council says.
A report by the city’s planning officers said that, despite the loss of five vacant retail units, the scheme would provide a boost to the city centre’s economy by giving visitors a space to “enjoy produce bought from nearby food outlets”.
“The proposed scheme will provide a new link to existing shopping areas, in addition to creating a flexible public space for visitors to rest, play and enjoy a green area within the context of an urban environment,” it said.
“Importantly, it is conceived as more than a route but rather development forming part of a wider sequence of city centre spaces and routes, in particular acting as a gateway between and strengthening the relationship between the Market area and St Martins and the Lanes area and providing a purposeful public space in itself which is attractive, easy and safe to use. ”
Work on the development will begin this month, and is expected to last around a year.
Plans and documents relating to the application can be found on Leicester’s planning portal using reference: 20261475
