Last week saw the
reburial of Richard III in Leicester. I am sure we can all think how the event
could have made even better. In a different life I used to organize major City
centre events. I would have had a larger procession and encouraged Channel 4 to
take better camera positions (or moved the procession) to show the City off
better. But if I had been organising it I would have doubtless got something
else not quite right. The bottom line is that it was brilliant for the City in
a multiplicity of ways. End of story.
And to be honest the same
applies to current Leicester City Centre planning. For example, I would have
designed Jubilee Square differently by enclosing the western side of the space
to create a much better sense of enclosure and block the unattractive views of
the multi-storey car park and the student flats to the west.
But overall again the
public sector is doing very well in the City.
I do a significant amount
of work in Nottingham. In many ways the, at times, poor relation of Leicester
is stealing a march on the City of Robin Hood. At times to me there appears is
a paralysis of action there. This
extends from the many times delayed new tram lines to shopping centres that are
not a patch on the Highcross in Leicester, as well as possibly there being more
large vacant sites near the centre.
What Leicester needs most
is the private sector to follow the public sector lead in the way it has done
in the Cultural Quarter with schemes such as the Athena, the redevelopment of
the Charles Street Police Headquarters (now known as Colton Square) and now the rapid occupation of the
"Blue Tower," near the railway station, for a wide variety of
compatible uses.
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| The successful Colton Square development |
There are calls by some
in Leicester’s private sector for more help and financial incentives from the
Council. This ranges from making car access easier, more car parking and
enterprise zones to business incentives. In my opinion this is wrong. Leicester
has its act together in a way that puts competing cities to shame. And others
should get on the bandwagon, as IBM have with a major new investment in the
City centre. Developers should do this before property prices rise
substantially.
The property cycle is in
the best position for years for successful development. Don’t miss out.
Peter Wilkinson
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