Council fails to find contractor for station revamp

Station Street will be permanently closed to traffic and replaced with a new pedestrianised open space

Leicester City Council has said it has so far been unable to find a contractor to carry out a major revamp of the city's railway station.

The authority is leading a £22m project to refurbish the London Road station and attempted to find a firm to carry it out in December.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said, however, only one company bid for the contract so no agreement was signed.

The council said it hoped to put the contract out to tender again early this year.

New shops and food outlets are proposed at current entrance to the station

Soulsby said: "I'm very disappointed that we did not get a good response for tenders.

"There appears to be a sudden shortage of contractors who are able, or willing, to take on this kind of specialist project.

"That is a reflection of the state of the industry.

"I am determined that we get on with this very important project, and we will be retendering in the near future.

"We will be looking at ways we can make the contract more appealing."

The Parcel Yard pub has already been demolished in a preparatory phase of work

Under the plans, the station's entrance will move from London Road to Station Street, which will be closed to traffic and replaced with a new pedestrianised public plaza.

The station's existing covered entrance hall area will be turned into a new plaza for shopping, food and drinks.

The council has already demolished the 1930s art deco Parcel Yard pub, which stood next to the station, as part of preparatory works for the main phase of work.

The council said it wanted the refurbishment of the main station building to commence later in 2025.