£17m Leicester mixed-use scheme set for June unveiling

The refreshed exterior of Leicester’s newest aparthotel is starting to be revealed as the scaffolding is dismantled.

The former Fenwick department store has been behind covers since February 2020, when developers, Aimrok Holdings started the £17m renovation to transform the iconic Grade II listed building into a high-end 133-bed aparthotel with four commercial units and 12,000 sq ft of office and meeting space.

Snizhana Yesaulenko

It will take around six weeks to dismantle all the scaffolding, but it is anticipated the new-look building will be fully revealed by early June.

Snizhana Yesaulenko, director at Aimrok Holdings and managing director of principal contractor, Cube Construction said: “Being such an old building we had to take each part step by step to make sure it was not only safe, but met the current building regulations – which are considerably different now from when the building was built in the 1800s .

“The Gresham is one of the most complex builds that we’ve ever done due to its age, visibility, location and the fact that it has been altered so much over the years.

“There was so much that needed to be done in the initial stages from replacing brick work, rebuilding walls, levelling flooring and re-constructing lift shafts to raising staircases and lifting handrails to name but a few things!

“We did actually spend more time on restoration that we originally planned, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We are confident that we now have a building that is safe, warm and welcoming.

“I can’t wait for the scaffolding to drop to see our beautifully restored building in all its full glory.”

Internally, The Gresham will benefit from a new central light well running from floor to ceiling which allows natural light to flow through whole building. The main staircase has been carefully renovated; double glazing has been added throughout and an ornate stained glass panel – which was not in the original plan – has been saved and restored as a feature.

Yesaulenko added: “Where possible we have tried to retain as many of the original historic characteristics as possible. All the exterior windows have been painstakingly reconditioned by hand: each glass panel has been cleaned, repaired and every frame sanded and repainted by three members of staff who have been doing this for the past 13 months. It has taken a very long time but the results will be worth it. “