Leicester station revamp plans move forward

Leicester City Council is pressing ahead with plans to restore the city’s Grade 2 listed historic railway station back to its former Victorian glory.

Having secured £17.6m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to help realise the ambitious plans to revitalise the landmark building and create a more attractive and accessible gateway into the city, the city council, Network Rail and East Midlands Railway have started the bid race for a two-stage design and build contract.

Firm have until 10 June to submit applications with a short listed invited to tender by 5 July.

Leicester’s mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said, “Leicester’s railway station is a landmark building, but as a vital transport hub, it needs a radical revamp to meet the needs of a modern city the size of Leicester.

“The award of almost £18million from the Government through the Levelling Up Fund is a tremendous endorsement of the importance of this project. It will help transform the area into a vibrant gateway and make a vital contribution to Leicester’s future growth and prosperity.”

Under the plans, Station Street will be permanently closed to traffic and replaced with a new pedestrianised open space, with trees and landscaping, to create a direct link between the railway station’s new entrance and the city centre.

The new entrance will feature a ramp and steps leading directly to the main concourse and ticket hall. The ticket hall itself will be re-configured and opened up to provide more space for passengers. New skylights will be installed in place of the existing suspended ceiling to let more natural light into the hall.

Taxis will be relocated from inside the existing covered main entrance hall to a new purpose-built looped taxi rank area off Fox Street, close to the new entrance. This will free up the glass-roofed entrance hall to be revamped as an attractive new plaza for cafes, bars or retail. A new secure cycle store will also be created close to the new entrance.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway said: “We’re excited to work alongside Leicester City Council and Network Rail to significantly improve the facilities for our customers.

“The investment will see the iconic Leicester railway station restored back to its Victorian glory. The development will transform Leicester railway station, as the gateway to the city, by encouraging integration with the surrounding community and offering an improved customer experience to all station visitors.”