NEW images showing how the area around Leicester’s landmark station will be revitalised to create an attractive and accessible gateway into the city have been released by Leicester City Council.
Having already secured £17.6million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, a key aspect for the project is relocating its main entrance so that it opens onto Station Street and directly faces the city centre. The city council, Network Rail and East Midlands Railway are working in partnership to bring forward these proposals. The original Station Street façade of the Grade II listed station building will also be revealed and carefully restored.
Under the plans, the existing taxi rank will be relocated from the porte cochère to a new purpose-built looped taxi rank area accessed via Fox Street. This will free up the area to be revamped as an attractive plaza for cafes, bars or retail, as has been achieved at Nottingham.
In the middle of the taxi loop will be the repositioned statue of Thomas Cook, founder of the package holiday, although there has been some discussion the statue should be given a more prominent position to greet passengers as it currently does.