Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has handed over a new workspace development in Leicester which has been created from a cluster of heritage buildings.
The conversion at the former Pilot House site on King Street – now named Canopy – is due to open in autumn 2025, with nine of the 25 available workspaces for creative businesses already let.
The architects and multidisciplinary practice behind the project, rg+p, was the first business to sign up for a tenancy at Canopy.
MD of Henry Brothers Construction Ian Taylor said: “We are incredibly proud to have delivered Canopy, which will breathe new life into this area of Leicester.
“The retention of important heritage features like parquet flooring, bricks and beams in the development has created a unique and inviting space for creative businesses, along with visitors who will use the café, meeting rooms, event spaces and conference facilities.
“This project strengthens our portfolio of work in Leicester, and it has been good to work with the city council and our construction partners to deliver such a wonderful scheme which offers such potential for the city.”
Leicester City Council is leading the £13.3m project to transform the cluster of council-owned former factory buildings into a new development offering 40,000 sq ft of accommodation for creative businesses in the heart of the city centre.
The redevelopment will offer a range of attractive workspaces, alongside meeting rooms and conference facilities, a co-working lounge, reception area and outdoor courtyard.
The public will also be able to enjoy Canopy’s central hub area which will offer event and exhibition space and a café.
Existing heritage features – including exposed brick and beams and original parquet flooring – have been retained. These have been complemented with contemporary elements including a glazed roof in the central hub area and a new entrance on King Street.
The design of the new development was developed by rg+p which won the contract following a competitive tendering exercise. The practice will relocate its Leicester studio to Canopy, while maintaining its London and Birmingham studios.
Rob Woolston, rg+p’s director, said: “Our connection with the Pilot House buildings is well established, having won the original competition to design its redevelopment in 2022.
“Since then, we’ve worked closely with the city council to develop a design to bring this fascinating cluster of former factory buildings back into productive use while retaining their historic character.
“With the lease on our current studio ending, we quickly realised the space we were looking for was the one that we are incredibly proud to have helped to create. We’re looking forward to making Canopy our new home when it opens.
“This will mark a significant step forward for our continued growth in Leicester, which has been our home for 45 years. Canopy is a great fit for our company and we’re proud to become the anchor tenant.”
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This ambitious project is transforming a group of significant but disused heritage buildings into a new creative hub for start-up and growing businesses and a landmark destination that will become a source of pride for Leicester.
“Along with supporting hundreds of high-quality jobs in the city’s thriving creative sector, this important redevelopment will contribute to the wider regeneration and prosperity of King Street, Belvoir Street, Market Street and the New Walk area. It will also complement recent landmark developments like the Gresham Building.
“The fact that the project’s architects, rg+p were the first confirmed tenants of Canopy is hugely encouraging. It’s a clear endorsement of what a well-considered and architecturally stunning new workspace they have helped to create. It really is shaping up to be a superb development.”
Construction work was undertaken by Henry Brothers Construction under contract to Leicester City Council. Other members of the construction team working alongside Henry Brothers and rg+p included structural engineer M-EC.
The new workspace community for creative businesses will help support around 250 jobs in the city centre.
