£1.5m restoration project unveiled for Leicester's Grand hotel
Plans have been submitted for a £1.5m heritage project to "restore Leicester's Grand hotel to its former glory".
The Grade II-listed building in the city centre is set to be repaired and restored as one of Historic England's High Street Heritage Action Zones.
Under the plans, the shopfronts that line the hotel would be reinstated as close to the building's original design as possible, using a sustainable hardwood timber and toughened glass. A new retail unit on Belvoir Street would also be created.
There would also be improvements made to the hotel's entrance, with cleaning and repairs made to the oriel windows and balcony. Specialists would look at the existing canopy above the entrance and determine whether it could be retained and restored.
Deputy city mayor Adam Clarke said: "The Grand hotel and ISKON buildings are fine examples of Leicester's Victorian past, and we have an important responsibility to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
"The Grand hotel – now owned by the Mercure group – has always been considered one of Leicester's most prestigious hotels, but today the ground floor is spoilt by poorly designed shop fronts, cheap modern materials and oversized signage.
"In February 2020, thanks to the hard work of the council's conservation team, Historic England announced that Leicester had been successful in securing £1.5m towards a High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme for the Granby Street and Church Gate conservation areas.
"This means we have been able to support the hotel to get an expert conservation architect team, Conception Architects, to survey the building, and plans have now been submitted for changes that will highlight and enhance the building's important and attractive historical features."
In order to access the funding from Historic England, a grant application will be assessed in detail by a local grants panel – chaired by Clarke and made up of volunteers including architects and surveyors.
Louise Brennan, regional director for the Midlands at Historic England, said: "This is a welcome step forward in the revitalising of this wonderful area of Leicester. The Grand hotel is a prestigious building, and we are looking forward to supporting the repair and refurbishment of its street-facing ground floor. Hopefully, this will encourage more people, both tourists and local residents, to step inside to see its fantastic interior and become part of this historic building's future."
If granted planning permission, work on the project is likely to start this summer.
Photo: zaphad1/Flickr
