DMU Masterplan - Leicester City Campus

Summary of Development

Below is a summary of the Masterplan development and what it will involve. 

£170m plans to regenerate an area of Leicester will put historic buildings back on the map and create a first class teaching and research Campus at De Montfort University 

The proposals, for which outline planning consent from Leicester City Council was granted in May 2004, include the restoration and re-introduction of historic landmarks, e.g. The Magazine Gateway and The Chantry House. 

Previously building and road development from the 1960’s obscured The Magazine Gateway - part of the New Works built in the 14th Century as an extension to the bailey of the medieval castle. The plan aims to restore and repair the historic northern edge of the campus. 

The new development, which covers an area stretching from Oxford Street to Bede Island, borders the Conservation Area around Castle Park and the riverside, to the South East of the City Centre. 

It will also provide student residences, academic buildings, a new medical centre and space for retail and leisure. 100,000 m2 of new buildings are included in the plan, a net increase of 66,000 m2. All development will take place within the present boundaries of the campus. 

At the core of the plan are five linked public spaces: Magazine Square, Hawthorn Square, Gateway Square, Library Square, and Queen's Square. 

Current and new buildings will define these open spaces, and new buildings will be designed to improve the area and bring life to the streets and squares. Ground floor levels will provide space for bars, cafés, shops and other services. 

Magazine Square
The plan also calls for remodeling of Oxford Street around The Magazine Gateway, improving pedestrian links to the city centre and creating a public space around The Magazine Gateway.

The reconfiguration of Magazine Square will recreate the pre-1960’s Oxford Road alignment; restore the original level of the Square in line with the base of the Magazine Gateway; provide a pedestrian link to the city centre through The Magazine’s archway and include new building façades to enclose the Square.

The Waterfront
The redevelopment of the waterfront area will provide further opportunities for the university to build a new landmark building.

A gateway from Western Boulevard will announce entry to the city centre as well as the University.

Queen's Square
The redevelopment of the University’s main car park area will include a new landscaped square enclosed by the Queen's Building and the Library (Queen's Square).

Gateway Square
Gateway Square’s reconfiguration will include a new low-rise pavilion to possibly house a bookshop or coffee shop, providing enclosure and definition to the square and allowing sunlight in.

Hawthorn Square 
The redevelopment of Hawthorn Square will include an open air café area. 

There will also be planting, hard and soft landscape design, lighting, street furniture and public art structures across the entire campus.

Library Square
Library Square will remain fundamentally unchanged.

New Buildings
2007 saw the opening of the PACE (Performance Arts Centre of Excellence) building, a purpose designed building for Performance, Drama and Music.

In 2008 the construction of a new £35m landmark building for Business & Law began on site with completion due in September 2009. This sustainable building  has already received a BREEAM Design Rating of Excellent and is located at the Gateway to  the campus linking the City Centre.

Refurbishments 
The former William Baker Factory, now known as The John Whitehead Building, was completely refurbished in 2008 for Central Support Departments, including Academic Registry.

Other high profile refurbishments include the creation of 2 Learning Zones in the Kimberlin Library and adjacent Eric Wood Building.

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