Plans are being developed to restore Leicester’s Grand Hotel to its former glory.
The impressive Grade II listed building, in Granby Street, could be spruced up as part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone campaign.
If it gets the go-ahead, shop fronts on the ground level will be reinstated as close as possible to the building’s original design, and a new shop unit on the Belvoir Street side added.
Doorways and delivery entrances would be fitted with bespoke iron gates, and new signs added in keeping with the building.
There will also be improvements made to the hotel entrance, with cleaning and repairs made to the windows and balcony.
Specialists would look at the existing canopy above the entrance and determine whether it could be retained and restored. The hotel has already undergone substantial internal refurbishment in recent years.
The project follows a successful grant for £750,000 secured from the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme in November, which will be used to fund vital repair works to the former Midland Bank building which stands nearby on the corner of Granby Street and Bishop Street.
The iconic Victorian building, designed by architect Joseph Goddard, is used by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON). Its roof will now be repaired to protect its structure and remove it from the Buildings At Risk register.
The work being carried out as part of the Heritage Action Zone, and the linked pedestrianisation works at the end of Granby Street, are part of Leicester City Council efforts to revitalise the city centre, encourage more businesses to invest and bring in more visitors, post-pandemic.
A number of new businesses have set up recently along the street which links the city centre with the station.
Deputy city mayor Coun Adam Clarke said: “The Grand Hotel and ISKON buildings are fine examples of Leicester’s Victorian past, and we have an important responsibility to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
“The Grand Hotel – now owned by the Mercure group – has always been considered one of Leicester's most prestigious hotels, but today the ground floor is spoilt by poorly designed shop fronts, cheap modern materials and oversized signage.
“In February 2020, thanks to the hard work of the council’s conservation team, Historic England announced that Leicester had been successful in securing £1.5 million towards a High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme for the Granby Street and Church Gate conservation areas.
“This means we have been able to support the hotel to get an expert conservation architect team, Conception Architects, to survey the building, and plans have now been submitted for changes that will highlight and enhance the building’s important and attractive historical features.”
High Street Heritage Action Zones are areas up and down the country which have been singled out by Historic England for funding support.
In order to access the funding from Historic England, a grant application will be assessed in detail by a local grants panel – chaired by Coun Clarke and made up of volunteers including architects and surveyors.
The panel will check the quality of the design, experience of the contractors proposed, and value for money. If this is satisfactory, the grant will be approved and work can begin.
Louise Brennan, regional director for the Midlands at Historic England, said: “This is a welcome step forward in the revitalising of this wonderful area of Leicester.
“The Grand Hotel is a prestigious building, and we are looking forward to supporting the repair and refurbishment of its street-facing ground floor.
“Hopefully, this will encourage more people, both tourists and local residents, to step inside to see its fantastic interior and become part of this historic building’s future.”
The plans for the project will now be considered by the city council’s planning department. If granted planning permission, work on the project is likely to start in summer 2022.
