St George Street Public Realm, Leicester

The scheme was procured as a call-off on the council’s Highway Maintenance and Construction framework following a mini-competition.

The overhaul of St George Street – between its junctions with St George’s Way and Queen Street – aimed to  create a more attractive and people-friendly route linking the railway station, city centre, and Cultural Quarter.

St George St was pedestrianized between its junctions with Queen St and the A594 (Central Ring Road), except for a short egress route for vehicles leaving the Mercury Place complex.

A series of rainwater gardens were created and trees planted along the edges of the street, which will help make the area more attractive to visitors and provide better natural drainage. 

A new terraced lawn area was created at the junction with St George’s Way, where an existing retaining wall was lowered to help open up the area and create a more inviting approach.

The main footway was reconstructed in resin-bound gravel and weaves between the new planting, with high-quality block paving marking the entrances to Mercury Place, St George’s Churchyard and the existing children’s play area.

New street lighting and a new docking station for the Santander e-bike hire scheme were also installed.

Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “St George Street has been a bit forgotten since the Leicester Mercury left its offices but it has the potential to be a fantastic link to the Cultural Quarter, especially for people arriving in the city by train.

“These improvements will make a huge difference to the look and feel of the street, helping to create a much more attractive environment for businesses and a safer and more inviting route for pedestrians.”