Leicester mayor cuts ribbon at Wheatsheaf Works
The first phase of the £20m redevelopment of the historic Wheatsheaf Works boot and shoe factory in Leicester is to be unveiled tomorrow (10 February).
Leicester's first elected mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is to cut the ribbon at the site.
Redevelopment specialist Urban Rhythm, a branch of luxury homebuilder Hazelton Homes, is transforming the former shoe factory into 172 "high-quality" homes.
The event will be attended by industry professionals and council members and aims to showcase phase one of the project and the 16 homes built so far.
"The Wheatsheaf Works is one of Leicester's landmark buildings and it's wonderful to see it being brought back into use in such an imaginative way," Sir Peter said.
Built in 1891, Wheatsheaf Works Boot and Shoe Factory was once the largest shoe factory in the world, later falling into disrepair as soaring production costs led to manufacturing moving abroad.
Having sat derelict for a decade, the building was taken on by Urban Rhythm in 2010 for the new development, which includes the restoration of the iconic clock tower.
Leicester architects' firm JSP Architecture devised plans which brings together converted homes in the original building and new properties located around a landscaped courtyard.
A total of 31 houses will eventually make up the first phase of the development.
