Work planned as pedestrian revamp nears completion

Leicester City Council says the work on Granby Street seeks to improve the route between the railway station and the city centre

Resurfacing work is due to begin as a revamp of a busy Leicester street nears completion.

More space is being created for pedestrians on a stretch of Granby Street as part of the Leicester City Council work, which will also see footpaths widened.

The main carriageway of Granby Street is due to be resurfaced from Sunday, between its junction with Dover Street and Rutland Street/Belvoir Street.

This stretch will therefore be closed to all traffic for up to a week, the city council added.

Former pay and display parking bays along the street, which have been out of use for more than three years, have been repurposed as footpaths and outdoor seating areas for cafes.

Bays have been created on nearby Chatham Street, York Street and Calais Street to replace those lost on Granby Street, the authority added.

The façade of the Grade II-listed Grand Hotel in Granby Street and its historic shopfronts are also being restored as part of a scheme funded by Historic England.

All highway improvement works are due to be complete by the end of November, the council said.

Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, described Granby Street as "an important gateway into the city centre".

"These ongoing improvements will help create a more attractive route for walkers, wheelers and cyclists with more space for shoppers and cafe-style seating," he said.

A final phase of work – currently planned for early next year – will permanently close the junction of Dover Street and Granby Street to motor vehicles.

The city council said a new turning facility on Dover Street would be created to ensure that vehicles could continue to access nearby businesses and attractions, including The Little Theatre.