Pictured above: (l-r) Matt Cooney, chief executive, LHA-ASRA
Group; Jaffer Kapasi, board member, LHA-ASRA Group; Richard Cornes,
partnerships director, William Davis Ltd and Terry Higgins, deputy
chairman, William Davis Ltd
An iconic Leicester building, which has dominated the skyline
around the Belgrave area of the city since the 1920's, is on
schedule to be transformed into a £10 million landmark
development and will be welcoming local people into their new homes
in Spring of next year.
Loughborough-based contractor and developer William Davis Ltd is
currently working in partnership with housing and regeneration
group, LHA-ASRA to redevelop what was the former Sangra textile
building on Abbey Park Road. On completion the scheme will create
102 new homes, comprising 62 Extra Care apartments for older people
and 40 affordable homes for rent and low-cost home
ownership.
The original building, constructed in the 1920's was home to the
still famous 'Wolsey' knitwear brand which took its name from
Cardinal Wolsey, the close aide of King Henry VIII, who was buried
in 1530 at Abbey Park adjacent the site. A striking sandstone cameo
of the Cardinal has featured on the building since its inception
and considerable care was taken during the redevelopment to
preserve and retain this unusual feature. The construction process
included encasing the six storey wall which features the cameo in a
temporary frame and cage, whilst a supporting wall was demolished
piece by piece to make way for the new development.
A special plaque featuring the cameo and explaining the
connection with the development was commissioned by William Davis
Ltd and the company's deputy chairman Terry Higgins and
partnerships director Richard Cornes together with Matt Cooney,
chief executive LHA-ASRA and Jaffer Kapasi, board member LHA-ASRA
were on site recently to allocate a place for the plaque at the new
entrance. The new building will be renamed The Wolsey in
recognition of the site's rich historical heritage and in
acknowledgement of the long standing local company which originally
occupied the mill.
In addition, William Davis is continuing its commitment to local
employment and training with the majority of the works costs being
invested in local workers, suppliers, sub-contractors and
consultants.
The Wolsey, designed by Leicester-based architect rg&p, has
a construction cost of £10 million funded by LHA-ASRA
together with a £7.3 million grant from the Government's
Homes and Communities Agency and was supported by Leicester City
Council. Work is scheduled for completion in Spring 2011.