Former footwear HQ to step up as 470-bed student hub
The historic former Freeman, Hardy and Willis building on Rutland Street in Leicester is set to be transformed into 472 student bedrooms.
Accommodation provider True Student is behind the project, reimagining the iconic structure into a student living hub.
Dating back to 1876, the building once housed the headquarters of the footwear retailer.
It was damaged during the city’s World War II ‘Blitz night’, later became the International Hotel, and stood vacant for over a decade before being reimagined.
Now, True Student is developing the site to cater to students from both De Montfort University and the University of Leicester.
Located just 300 metres from the city centre and the famous Clock Tower, the project marks True Student’s second East Midlands location, with another site in Nottingham also under construction.
Ben Morley, managing director of True Student said: “Leicester is a thriving city that provides fantastic opportunities and experiences for its student community. Along with two bustling universities, the city has a vibrant mix of popular bars, art galleries, and music venues, alongside easily accessible green spaces and nature reserves, offering a wonderful balance for students starting a new chapter in the city. We’re incredibly excited to bring our award-winning concept to another East Midlands city, and I’m looking forward to opening our doors to the first students this summer.”
The development will offer over 1,758 square metres of social space, including a 465-square-metre gym, yoga and boxing areas, a picture house, a festival zone, private study zones, co-working spaces and more.
Morley continued: “This is not just about offering high-quality living spaces, it’s about redefining what student living should be. As with each of our developments, true Leicester has been built to inspire a supportive and vibrant community. The project involves a large-scale and complex refurbishment of a historic building in the heart of the Cultural Quarter, and we’re proud to offer an incredible variety of room layouts and very generous room sizes. In addition, all students receive not only incredible value for money, but all our rooms feature individual characters and features, with no one bedroom the same.
“With exceptional social spaces, a larger gym than you’d find in most residential spaces, and a focus on a jam-packed calendar of events for wellbeing, fun and personal growth, we’re setting a new standard in the city. We want our students to feel at home, not just when they’re in their room, but throughout the entire accommodation.”
