Leicester: Recladding works to start at Phoenix Square

The complex, built in 2009, has recently had its arts centre extended

Cladding on one of Leicester's most prominent buildings is to be replaced in a £14m project.

Phoenix Square is a mixed-use building, with residential apartments, business units and the Phoenix cinema and art centre within the development.

The cladding issue was identified after the Grenfell Tower disaster, with the work being funded by the government.

The city council says the complex will be open during the 18-month project but access may be affected at times.

The local authority said it had applied to Homes England's Building Safety Fund for money to carry out the work.

It has been awarded £14m in November from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities scheme.

'Stringent modern standards'

The council is working with contractors Willmott Dixon, which constructed the building back in 2009, to undertake the re-cladding work.

The facade to the whole of the building will be re-clad, including the central courtyard but excluding Phoenix cinema's new extension, the authority said.

Deputy city mayor for climate, economy and culture, councillor Adam Clarke, said: "This government-funded work is being carried out due to a change in legislation following the Grenfell Tower tragedy - not because of any particular risk at Phoenix Square itself.

"This funding means the new cladding will meet the stringent modern standards required by law.

"The building will very much be open for business throughout the work, and we've been in contact with groups representing all users to ensure they are kept abreast of the planned work and how we can minimise the impact on them."