Third bid for block of flats on vacant city site

A third bid to build flats on an "unsightly" plot in Leicester city centre has been made by a developer.

Toscafield Leicester Ltd wants to build an eight-storey block on the corner of St Margaret's Way and Vaughan Way.

Two previous applications in 2018 for 151 flats and 2024 for 104 homes were rejected by Leicester City Council planners over concerns the scheme would be overbearing, poorly designed, offer poor living standards and impact on the nearby Grade I listed St Margaret's Church.

The latest application, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, is for 81 homes, with 44 one-bed flats, 30 two-beds and seven three-beds.

The application said homes would be for general residential use rather than student lets.

None would be classed as "affordable" as the developer has argued it would render the scheme not "financially viable".

Documents show 10 parking spaces for the proposed building, the "majority" of which would be for staff use, Toscafield said, while 140 bicycle spaces are proposed.

The site, described by Toscafield as "vacant, derelict and unsightly", has been vacant since 2004 when the 1960s commercial building which stood there was demolished.

As well as the two previous refusals by the city council, the 2024 decision against the developers was upheld on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate.

People can comment on the latest application until 24 April on the council's planning portal.

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