DEMOLITION OF THE GARDEN STREET ISLAND, LEICESTER
DEMOLITION OF THE GARDEN STREET ISLAND, LEICESTER
Your help is need to stop the demolition of the ‘Garden Street Island.’ This site includes shops and some of the last remaining slums in Leicester.
A developer has applied to demolish 122-130 Belgrave Gate and 1 Garden Street. The Council has to reach a decision about this application by 17th February, otherwise the applicant has an automatic right to start demolition. There is no legal requirement for the Council to publicise this type of application.
This group of shops, cottages and outhouses were built c1815-30 and are typical of Leicester in the early C19th century. Although they are not architectural masterpieces, these buildings are an important part of Leicester’s social history.
What makes the Garden Street Island special is that it includes slums that escaped demolition in 1931. These one up one down cottages are on Garden Street and the former Garden Street Square (Court C, Garden Street). Apart from Cramant Cottages in King Street, these are the last surviving slums in Leicester. They are the only ones remaining which face onto a street.
The shops on Belgrave Gate are also an important part of the street scene and their demolition would also be a particular loss to the individual character of the City and its history. Linnett’s hairdressers and perfumery at 124 –126 Belgrave Gate was in business in 1835. Next door was the long defunct Brewer’s Arms.
I would hope to see these buildings being made subject to an article 4 direction to protect them. If they are refurbished there is no reason why they should not continue to have a useful life.There is more information about them here:
You can oppose the demolition by filling in this form on the Council’s website
Ned Newitt
Honorary Alderman and author of The Slums of Leicester
