People who live and work in the Eyres Monsell area of Leicester are being asked for their views on plans to redevelop the site of two former schools for new housing.
Leicester City Council has been awarded £360,000 of government funding from the One Public Estate (OPE) programme. This will help fund the proposed demolition of the disused Newry and Southfield school buildings and prepare the site for much-needed new homes.
Both school buildings have been vacant for over a decade and are now derelict. The city council is working to clear the site ahead of redevelopment with demolition work likely to being in autumn 2022.
Alongside this, the city council has appointed architecture practice Levitate to help develop an outline masterplan for the redevelopment of the three-acre site, located between Southfields Drive and The Newry.
Local residents and businesses are being invited to give their views on the initial proposals to redevelop the site for new council housing.
The proposals include a mixture of flats and family homes with private gardens, in addition to improvements to the existing through route for pedestrians and cyclists linking The Newry and Southfields Drive.
The masterplan currently proposes between 50 and 60 new homes for the site, with the final number to be confirmed at the planning stage. The buildings will be designed to high eco-standards as part of Leicester City Council’s response to the climate emergency.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We are committed to investing in local neighbourhoods and estates across the city. The redevelopment of the vacant and disused Newry and Southfield school sites presents a valuable opportunity to make lasting and ambitious improvements to this neighbourhood and help address the huge need for new council homes in the city.
“Work is still at a very early stage and we want to involve the local community to help us develop an agreed vision and masterplan for how we can bring this derelict site back into use in a way that will bring real benefits to the local area.
Over 2,000 letters are to be delivered to homes and businesses in the local area inviting people to comment on the initial proposals.
People can also find out more and complete an online survey at my.engaged.space/southfieldandnewry
Closing date for comments is Sunday 13 February.
