Plans to transform Pilot House in Leicester have been submitted after receiving a boost from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund last year.
The £11.4m proposals, initially revealed in 2020, will see the cluster of heritage buildings on King Street redeveloped into a home for creative businesses with a central courtyard and atrium for shared use, a business zone for technical and digital businesses, and a co-working lounge.
The city council proposes to deliver the phased refurbishment of the 100,000 sq ft former factory, to create office and workspace to meet demand from inward investment, the professional sectors and creative/design businesses.
It is hoped that Pilot House will build on and extend the success of the city’s LCB Depot in the Cultural Quarter and will be a hub providing workspace, events, exhibitions and host key projects and services to support the growth of its business communities.
Speaking on the plans, City Mayor Peter Soulsby previously said: “This project will transform a group of architecturally significant heritage buildings into 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 exciting new developments like the Gresham Building, but it will also create and support hundreds of high quality new jobs.”
Subject to planning permission, work could start on site in early 2023, with the building open for business from spring 2024.
