Tower blocks approved for former Matalan store

The store, in Church Gate, closed in 2023

Plans to replace a former Matalan store in Leicester with more than 200 flats have been approved.

Leicester City Council has given the go-ahead for the demolition of the store on the corner of Church Gate and Vaughan Way.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said two blocks of flats, 14 storeys at their highest point, can be built on the site.

The former Matalan store closed in January 2023 and has stood empty since.

Developers The Hornbeam Partnership said it was a “unique opportunity to regenerate an underperforming site”.

There will be 129 one-bed, 89 two-bed, and four three-bed homes created through the scheme.

Landscaped areas will surround the buildings, with a private outdoor space for residents also included.

A pedestrian walkway will also be created through the site between Church Gate and Blake Street, separating the two buildings.