New proposal for major mixed-use scheme in Leicester city centre

A new proposal has been put forward to replace a Matalan store in Leicester city centre with two blocks of flats, with the tallest reaching 14 storeys.

This marks the second attempt to gain approval for residential development on the Church Gate site.

In the previous year, planning officers from Leicester City Council rejected a 262-flat scheme due to concerns about its impact on views of nearby heritage sites, including St. Margaret’s Church.

Planning officers concluded that the initially suggested apartment block, featuring 14, 10, eight, and six storeys, would be deemed “excessive and indicative of overdevelopment.”

They further noted that it would “dominate” the surrounding area. The officers also expressed criticism toward the applicant, accusing them of “largely ignoring” the advice and comments provided during the pre-application stage.

The most recent proposal suggests the construction of two separate buildings on the Vaughan Way site, totalling 222 apartments.

These would comprise 129 one-bedroom flats, 89 two-bedroom units, and three four-bedroom residences, all designated as rental homes.

According to the plans, a car park for residents would be situated at the rear of the site, accessible through the existing Darker Street entrance. The proposal also includes plans for 195 bicycle storage spaces.

During the rejection of the prior application, officers noted that the tallest sections of the approved neighbouring design were slimmer, indicating a lesser visual impact compared to the rejected proposal.

The Matalan store remains open and operational, as indicated on the company’s website.