New Business Quarter
Our Masterplan is driven by the need to diversify Leicester’s economy and to grow the service sector, particularly offices. Leicester is ideally situated for offices, but until recently this sector has been under-developed in the city.
The New Business Quarter is bringing this change about, creating new job opportunities and long-term prosperity. It offers a continuing pipeline of supply for the next few years: 20,000 square meters of new or newly-refurbished space are available now, a further 10,000 square meters with sites assembled and full permission, and negotiations advancing for later development of a further 30,000 square meters. Few other locations can offer such a scale and range of accommodation.
Located around the rail station, just 70 minutes away from London St Pancras International and Eurostar links to Paris and Brussels, the New Business Quarter is creating 46,000 square metres (500,000 sq ft) of new Grade A offices offices, with the potential for 4,000 new jobs. .
Goodman has completed the first of our projects here – 9,700 square meters (108,000 sq ft) of high quality new offices at Colton Square, the former Charles Street Police Station.
Colton Square is the first speculative office space in the city for several years, and has raised local rents from £14 per square foot to around £16.50 per square foot.
Planning permission has been granted for 9,000 sq m of new Grade A offices at International House, on Granby Street. Developers Cathco are creating sustainable office space and leisure units, providing accommodation for 800 new jobs in Grade A office space.
The renewal of St George’s Tower has added 12,000 square meters of refurbished space to current availability, helping to grow momentum of change in the New Business Quarter.
Concept designs for Station Plaza are complete, providing 300,000sf of Grade A space immediately adjacent to the rail station. In addition around 25,000 sf of ancillary retail and leisure space will be provided, together with parking for 1,000 cars. Further work is being undertaken and developer/investor interest will be sought in 2010.
Concept designs for a new station building incorporating the new main entrance, extra retail and leisure space, larger concourse, new ticketing, and public facilities have been completed. The new entrance will open on to a new public square facing the city centre and will offer an open and attractive environment to the station.
Incorporated within the design proposal is a new high quality hotel, and developers, investors and operators will be sought in 2010.
The Business Gateway provides a superb environment and accommodation of the highest specification for tomorrow's users with flexible, low carbon design in the most sustainable location in the UK's first environment city, only 69 minutes by train from London. More information on the Location of Leicestershire.
Headlines
- Capiltalising on Leicester's location to grow new employment in 50,000 sq m of new offices
- Reviving area around main rail station
- Negotiations advancing on remaining site next to station
- Higher city office rents
Figures
- 4,000 jobs (800 in offices already completed or on site)
- 10,000 sq m built
- 10,000 sq m more with planning permission
- Remaining 30,000 sq m under negotiation