Leicester Regeneration

Hi,
I've just registered here and am keen to know who's around from the Leicester area. It's great what's happening in Leicester at the moment, I'm very upbeat about the regeneration plans - the new Highfields shopping centre opens at the beginning of Spetember. What do other's think?
 
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ginantonic

I drive past the new shopping centre every day, and like many others, find it a complete eyesore...part of it looks like a giant shower screen, and the rest like a space blanket! Leicester has become so fragmented - first we had the multi coloured building (can't even remember what it is, now) now the Highcross Centre.
I work very close to Leics Royal, and the drive through the city gets worse every week with all the changing road layouts and stuff. I just wish they would finish it!
 
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My wife is one of the quantity surveyors building the new shires and it's always amusing to hear the anecdotes on-site when she comes home! One day the workers laid the car park arrows the wrong way round in error, so people got stuck in a continuous track around the car park trying to find the exit.

But I have to say I quite like the new design for the John Lewis building, the cinema's going abit far though, I agree it does look like something Paula Radcliffe would wear.

Has anyone looked up at the art work in the old shires?
 
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ginantonic

I have to drive past the silver monstrosity every day - there was a letter from a Leicester resident in the Mercury last week saying she lives 2 miles away and can STILL see it shining...! I know Leicester needs regenerating, but it seems to be such a mixture of styles; I'm not too sure about the Highcross Centre, it may be a cutting-edge fantastic thing now, but will it look dated in 10 years? I'm a bit sad that more of the older buildings have not been saved, there were some really unusual ones. I am also finding the road layout directly opposite the new cinema a bit tight, I use the right hand lane (I work near the Infirmary) and it's a very narrow turn. :|
 
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ginantonic

Hi "thebookiesoffers" - if you're near the Infirmary at any time (Jarrom Street) - why not pop in for a bacon cob??? Jarrom's News & Takeaway, at the back of the hospital.
ps - they are demolishing buildings near us and building yet more flats...good for us, though, as we feed and water all the builders!
 
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aidan1980

Free Member
Jan 16, 2008
1,321
149
Leicester
Hi "thebookiesoffers" - if you're near the Infirmary at any time (Jarrom Street) - why not pop in for a bacon cob??? Jarrom's News & Takeaway, at the back of the hospital.
ps - they are demolishing buildings near us and building yet more flats...good for us, though, as we feed and water all the builders!

down there a lot for the football:) i'll pop in
 
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I agree, Nottingham is much better for shopping, it even has character, something that I think Leicester has lost now. I have a problem with shopping in big cities - there is no point going to another city, say, to go in Gap or Zara, as they all stock the same stuff, anyway. Where's the individuality? I'm concerned for the smaller boutiquey shops in Leicester, they sell some good things, and I think the Highcross Centre will take a lot of trade away from them.
 
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themediahub

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Sep 23, 2008
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I'm based in Leicester, My office is only a minute away from the highcross and I can see the new building from my window, I think the regeneration is great as Leicester is always seen as a boring city, but compared to the bullring in birmingham I think leicester highcross is still small but a major improvement for Leicester.
 
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There was a good article in the Leicester Mercury yesterday about Leicester people being known for their moaning, and the Highcross Centre has brought out the worst of them. I agree with you, Leicester needed some regenerating, and whatever the powers that be do to the City, there'll always be moaners. Personally, I think the Cinema de Lux will look dated in 10 years, but it is certainly a landmark. My daughter went to see a film there last week, and thoroughly enjoyed it, saying it was more of an "experience" than other cinemas.
 
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There was a good article in the Leicester Mercury yesterday about Leicester people being known for their moaning, and the Highcross Centre has brought out the worst of them. I agree with you, Leicester needed some regenerating, and whatever the powers that be do to the City, there'll always be moaners. Personally, I think the Cinema de Lux will look dated in 10 years, but it is certainly a landmark. My daughter went to see a film there last week, and thoroughly enjoyed it, saying it was more of an "experience" than other cinemas.
 
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aidan1980

Free Member
Jan 16, 2008
1,321
149
Leicester
still haven't been but read the stories about the opening few days and how many people came to see it and shop, can only be a good thing for leicester and leicestershire. Did and does make me laugh at all the people moaning, suppose they'd be happy if we went back to the crappy 1970's haymarket (before it was done up) and the littlewoods and market above the fish market as the main areas to shop in leicester:)

i'll still use Limeys, Maze and Scottneys anyway:D
 
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BradSherwin

Free Member
Oct 10, 2008
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i'll still use Limeys, Maze and Scottneys anyway:D

Alright for some.

Have you seen the old refurbed BT building? That is also a complete eye sore, I remember it being slated in the Leicester Merc.

For the highcross, I think its great just what Leicester needed. Although I think the road between John lewis and their car park needs to be sorted, the traffic is horrendous. When you come out of the rooftop car park you have to go all the way round holiday inn to go in the opposite direction.

Is it me or does the rooftop car park seem like your on a rollercoaster on coming towards the exit?
 
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I visited Leicester for the first time in ages to go to the Apple store in the new Highcross centre. The place was packed and the Highcross car park was full, eventually found some parking on a wasteground car park about 5 mins walk from the centre. I can only imagine Leicester's going to be a nightmare at christmas! Although the owner of the wasteground car park is going to be minted!!!
 
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ginantonic

I park in a wasteland carpark (it'll be built into yet more student flats eventually) for work every day, and the powers that be introduced residents' and business permits recently, meaning the carpark is full every day, so yes, they are minting it. There are 2 of us, and we get a reduced rate, but it's still £4 a day each, 6 days a week. The carpark holds about 100 cars.
 
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