SUMMARY
As a city Leicester has a lot to offer its people and communities. However currently these offerings, natural and cultural, are fragmented and cut off from one another, so as a whole are failing to contribute to overall city life.
Development of target areas, and interventions adjacent to the existing corridor of the River Soar will establish the river as a vital artery for people, as well as linking together pieces of the city. Schemes to manage flood risk and introduce new social activity in these areas will contribute to a vibrant and resilient city.
Landmarks
Leicester is a city in the East Midlands. The river Soar runs from South to North right through the middle. With a population of 330,000 it is a multicultural city, renowned for successfully hosting a rich diversity of cultures.
Flood Risk Analysis
Hill shaded Digital Terrain Model, with flood risk and building footprints superimposed
An Industrial Heritage Neglected
Textile manufacture
Improving accessibility of canal and riverside routes
The river and canal weave together to create a continuous green corridor for wildlife, whilst allowing for continuous stretches of built-up river/canal bank. One can walk the existing 5km tow path uninterrupted, however certain stretches are perceived as unsafe, and have issues with vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
Three Hubs
New Nodes in a Void Zone
STITCH CENTRAL
Surrounded by new development, the area is at risk of totally loosing its character, and becoming another district serving the commercial city centre with no identity of its own. Streets flanked by 1800s industrial red brick buildings, including the old Great Central station become the setting for tree lined and vegetated stormwater strips, which will converge on a new civic space. The junction will then act to connect the commercial shopping centre of the city to the Grand Union Canal tow path - a connection that is currently lacking.
WEAVERS MOORINGS
Residential moorings and a ‘floating market’ along the Grand Union Canal, paired with a courtyard overlooking the canal on the east bank, will bring people to the area and provide natural surveillance onto the tow path. Lighting along the path and improved management of bankside vegetation will also improve the usage of the tow path. The hub will encourage movement past and through the industrial void zone. Over time new pedestrian and cycle routes will radiate from the new hub, permeating the void zone and linking with the city centre.
YARN SQUARE
A new social centre, with the regenerated viaduct viaduct arches acting as landmark. Pedestrianisation to create an unobstructed route between residential area to the west and the river tow path. Linking into existing pedestrian routes to the city centre.
Yarn Square
