Leicester car wash set to be flattened and replaced with flats

Councillors are set to debate plan to flatten a car wash on a main gateway into the city to make room for two blocks of flats. Original plans submitted to Leicester City Council revealed developer West London Properties’ aspiration to build a four-storey and a five-storey block of flats on the site of the Woodgate Car Wash, with 42 flats between them.

West London Properties has since reduced the scale of its proposal. The new plan would see a four-storey building and a block stepped at four and three storeys built instead. There would now be 39 flats if the proposed scheme is granted planning permission at the city council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, June 21.

The single-storey cash wash building, which sits opposite the junction of Blackbird Road and Groby Road, in the Fosse ward, would be torn down to make way for the new homes. The development site sits on the Fiveways junction, which is said to be one of the most confusing stretches of road in the city. Last year, the council announced a £10.4m project to completely remodel it.

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The larger of the two blocks would be situated on the Balfour Street side of the site, while the smaller would sit adjacent to the existing four-storey building in Fosse Road North. There would be 30 one-bed homes and nine two-beds, if approved. The development will also include a courtyard area separating the two blocks with shrubs and trees to provide an ‘oasis in the urban landscape’.

The application states one aim of the development would be to create a more visually attractive entrance to the city. It adds: “Although the application site lies on a busy road junction and main gateway into the city, the current use offers little in marking the arrival into the city and the current building stock has no architectural merit other than being functional.”

There would be 25 parking spaces included in the development, including one disabled space. There would also be 24 cycle parking spaces. The current entrance off Fosse Road North will be closed off.

Five objections were received by the council, including from ward councillors Sue Waddington and Ted Cassidy, regarding the original plans, including a lack of parking in an area where there is already not enough, the over development of the site and the additional traffic on an already busy stretch of road. One further objection was submitted after the changes to the scheme were filed which said the reduction of the proposal by three homes was not sufficient to alleviate the parking and congestion concerns. However, planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval, saying the site is in a location with good links to public transport.

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