Steelwork and cladding complete on Leicester light industrial units

Steelwork and cladding have been completed on Stephen George + Partners’ (SGP) transformation of a former Leicester City Council housing depot into a hub for small to medium-sized light industrial businesses. Marked by a topping out ceremony attended by Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, the four buildings will contain 21 single storey industrial units, of varying sizes, from 70 sqm to 232 sqm. The development, on a constrained 1-hectare site at Blackbird Road, Leicester, will include car parking, servicing areas, cycle storage, and associated landscaping.

Says Satnam Flora, Associate at SGP: “We have worked closely with the client, Brackley Property Development, and contractor, Wilten Construction Ltd, and the construction is progressing well, and is currently ahead of programme. The development will offer flexible units for a range of businesses, addressing the demand for high quality commercial employment workspace for start-up and growing businesses in the city. We expect the development to complete in October 2024.”

SGP’s design creates a simple, aesthetically pleasing and functional group of terraces, using clean lines and a neutral colour palette to avoid dominating the surrounding area. The overall scheme creates a consistent built form, using robust and easily maintainable materials, such as profiled steel cladding systems and aluminium framed glazing, to aid longevity.

Concludes Satnam: “This redevelopment ispart of Leicester City Council’s on-going programme of new Levelling Up funded works, aimed at providing quality employment and transport infrastructure improvements in the city. ”