Work has begun in Leicester to redevelop a cluster of buildings to become a new home for the city’s creative and design sector- including for startups.
Contractors started work on Pilot House this month, which is a former factory on King Street.
The regeneration involves transforming five separate buildings into a 60,000sqft space for startups and growing businesses.
The development will cost £13m and will include meeting and conference facilities, a café and kitchen, a courtyard to the rear and a range of workspaces, including a co-working lounge for creative tech and digital businesses.
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.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme can email workspace development manager James Burkmar at pilothouse@lcbdepot.co.uk