£12M PLANS FOR LEICESTER CATHEDRAL SQUARE ARE UNVEILED

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

£12m plans for Leicester Cathedral Square are unveiled

A £12m project to transform the area around Leicester Cathedral will help the city's economic regeneration, according to the Bishop of Leicester.

The Rt Rev Tim Stevens spoke as plans for the development, which include a public square big enough to hold concerts for a crowd of 1,500 outside St Martins, went on show to the public.

However, city councillors have cast doubt on whether the authority will be able to find the money necessary to complete the work.

The masterplan includes proposals to remove gravestones – which would be recorded and replaced with an alternative memorial – and the refurbishment of the former Leicester Grammar School buildings, which were bought by the diocese in March 2008.

Bishop Tim said: "The new Cathedral Square will make a significant contribution to the life of the city and county.

"A cathedral is traditionally what gives a place its status as a city.

"A high-quality setting for its cathedral would help put Leicester on the map and the gathering space we are creating will also contribute significantly to the city's continued economic regeneration."

A planning application has been submitted to Leicester City Council.

Project director Pete Hobson said he was hopeful a decision would be reached by the middle of February.

The plans will also need the approval of the Cathedrals' Fabric Commission for England.

The commission met last week and is understood to be in support of the plan, though it has not announced a final decision.

The development would remodel the area outside the cathedral, facing Peacock Lane.

The present fountain near St Martins East would be removed and a series of water jets installed close to the old Grammar School site.

At the heart of the design is a public square which planners hoped would be used for outdoor concerts, markets or church services.

Mr Hobson said: "There are a range of possible events and we are speaking with officers at the city council to see what would be fitting.

"We envisage things such as classical or jazz music or festival events, possibly a specialist market, open air church services and public gatherings."

The bulk of the £12m needed for the overall project would be found by the Diocese of Leicester.

Money for development of the square – is expected to cost about £1.6m – is being sought from East Midlands Development Agency and the city council.

Council cabinet member for regeneration Patrick Kitterick said he was in favour of the plans, but no money was presently available.He said: "It is an interesting plan to create high-quality public space.

"We are in ongoing discussions [over funding] but we have not identified sources of money for it at the moment."

A display of the plans is on show at the cathedral.