Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has been appointed to deliver a new £13.3m business hub in Leicester city centre.
The scheme involves renovating a cluster of heritage buildings in King Street to create a modern home for creative businesses in support of around 250 new jobs.
Five separate but interconnected buildings at Pilot House will be transformed into 60,000 sq ft of high quality accommodation, including a central, glass-fronted communal courtyard and atrium.
Leicester City Council awarded the construction contract to Henry Brothers, and work has now just started on site.
Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction, Ian Taylor, said: “We are very excited to have been appointed to this renovation project which will breathe new life into the historic Pilot House and help to boost Leicester’s economy and growth.
“It’s a superb development which includes the retention of existing industrial features, including parquet flooring and exposed brick and beams.
“Henry Brothers has significant experience of working on heritage and renovation projects and we are very pleased to have now started on site with our team and alongside our partners who are working on this key development.”
Other members of the construction team include architects RG+P and structural engineer M-EC.
Pilot House was a factory built in around 1900. The sensitive redevelopment will transform the building into a business zone for technical and digital companies, complete with a co-working lounge and a central courtyard and atrium for shared use.
The aim is for it to be a permanent base for businesses of varying sizes, from start-ups to established companies, once the development has been completed in early 2025.
The scheme forms part of a wider regeneration of the Belvoir Street, Market Street and New Walk areas in Leicester and will be managed by the city council creative hub, LCB Depot.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This project will transform a group of architecturally significant heritage buildings into a creative hub for start-up and growing businesses and a landmark destination that will become a source of pride for Leicester.
“Not only will it contribute to the wider regeneration of the Belvoir Street, Market Street and New Walk areas, and complement developments like the Gresham Building, it will also create hundreds of high quality new jobs – including more of the skilled roles that will encourage graduates from Leicester’s two universities to remain in the city when their studies are over.
“It’s great news that this scheme is now under way. Backed by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, it will give a huge boost to the city’s growth and economic recovery.”
The regeneration project received £8.6m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the city council committing a further £4.7m towards the development.
