Factory demolition approved despite heritage loss

Heritage campaigners want the Horseshoe building and other Corah structures to be preserved

The demolition of a Victorian former textiles factory in Leicester has been approved despite concerns over the loss of an important part of the city's industrial past.

Developers plan to flatten much of the Corah site, off Burleys Way, and replace it with 1,100 homes, including blocks of flats up to 18 storeys high, bars, restaurants and a hotel.

Leicester City Council's planning committee approved a planning application for the scheme after a two-and-a-half hour debate on Wednesday.

Applicants CityRegen Leicester Ltd and Galliford Try Investments Ltd said the scheme would provide much-needed housing on a 7.5-acre brownfield site.

'This is obliteration'

Councillors voted to approve the scheme, which includes a new footbridge to connect the rear of the Corah site to Abbey Park on the other side of the Grand Union Canal and a multi-storey car park with 239 spaces, by nine to two.

However, heritage campaigners said the loss of the factory structures, which date back to 1865, would be a disaster for the city.

"This isn't regeneration, this is obliteration," said Leicester Civic Society chairman Burt McNeil.

"What is being proposed is a bleak expanse of soulless blocks that would erase the very identity of the site."

Under the proposal, the facade of the factory's old textile building would be kept, with a six-storey flats building constructed behind it.

Two factory chimneys would also be retained as part of the development.

However, Mr McNeil said the clearance of the rest of the site would lead to the loss of many fine buildings.

"Leicester needs more housing, and the Corah site must be redeveloped, but this should not come at the cost of our history, our environment and the city's long-term integrity," he said.

Developers said the scheme would create homes, jobs and a new community

The factory, which closed in the 1990s, and parts of it are let out to small businesses which are set to relocate.

Oliver Corbett, agent for the applicant, said none of the buildings had statutory protected status and that it was not financially viable to convert them into housing.

He said the scheme would act as a catalyst for wider regeneration in that part of the city.

Some councillors expressed concerns the complex could be cleared and the scheme might fall through.

While outline planning permission has been granted, Mr Corbett said demolition of the buildings would not happen until detailed plans for the site had been approved by the council.

He said: "This is an exceptional opportunity for a large site under the ownership of a willing single local landowner to bring [it] forward for redevelopment.

"Corah is a once-in-a-generation chance to create homes, jobs and a new community."