ProCon at Friars Mill

ProCon members enjoyed a look at the Friars Mill development and regeneration on Leicester’s riverside.

Visiting narrowboats were moored alongside on a sunny evening, providing an enticing taste of how a fully redeveloped waterside should be a blessing for the city.

More than 40 members heard David Beale from Leicester City Council and Sarah Earney from Levitate Architects explain the context, challenges, achievements to date and future plans for the wider site and the city’s waterside.

Already home to several businesses, and the Chamber of Commerce which is managing the site and lettings, Friars Mill is built on the site of the former Donisthorpe factory. It is Leicester’s oldest surviving factory building.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre, the site has four historic buildings – Friars Mill, Bath Lane Mill, Pump House and the Bath Lane cottages.

Work is underway on creating new buildings – two new offices and an energy centre. Sarah and David led ProCon members on tours to take a look around.