Connecting Leicester Projects

As part of our successful bid to the Transforming Cities Fund, works were completed in March 2020 as part of Tranche 1 to improve a stretch of Abbey Park Road to create a two-way cycle track. As a result, we have seen cycling numbers increase from just under 300 cyclists a day in May 2019 to over 500 a day in May 2020 with new surveys planned for May 2022.

It is important that we extend and provide safe links to outlying neighbourhoods and encourage more people to make the shift from the car to more sustainable forms of transport. A cycle track has been created on the opposite side of the road to Abbey Park, the footpath has also adjusted with the existing central reservation removed, and two lanes of traffic maintained.

These works were the first stage of longer-term improvements which are due to go on site Spring 2022. For more details on the Abbey Park Road Phase 2 scheme, please visit our ongoing Transforming Cities Fund Projects.

The Lancaster Road cycle improvement scheme was completed in Summer 2020 as part of the Connecting Leicester programme to provide a safer and more direct cycle route between the Clarendon Park area and the city centre. We have created a two-way cycle lane from the Queens Road and Victoria Park Road junction across Victoria Park and adjacent to Lancaster Road. The new cycle route is approximately 1km in length.

New cycle paths have been created across Victoria Park adjacent to the existing footpath connecting Queens Road and Peace Walk, along the full length of Lancaster Road, including a new cycle path through the edge of Nelson Mandela Park. The new route links with the cycle lane on Welford Road, creating a continuous and safer route for cyclists to and from the city centre. This scheme also delivered improvements to existing footways and crossing facilities to benefit pedestrians.

The scheme recorded an average of just over 850 cyclists using it per day in June 2020, and just under 1,100 per day in June 2021.

The Belgrave Gate improvement scheme was completed early in 2021 and has created a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists between Haymarket Bus Station and Leicester’s Golden Mile, while significantly improving the condition of the road for motorists.

A segregated cycle track has been created on the section of Belgrave Gate from Abbey Street to Burleys Way and footpaths reconstructed in high quality resin bound gravel.  The new ‘living roof’ bus shelters have also been installed.

A new cycle track and improved footpath has been created along the central reservation between Burleys Way and the new routes for pedestrians and cyclists completed following the removal of the Belgrave flyover.  

Improvements have also been completed on Burleys Roundabout itself, where a new shared footpath and cycleway now run underneath the flyover to provide a safer and more direct route onto Belgrave Gate.

New artwork has also now been completed on the flyover columns as part of the latest collaboration between the Council and local street art specialists Graffwerk.

The Lotus Flowers sculptures which previously stood on the roundabout have been repaired and repainted and are now in their new location at the recently created open space on Archdeacon Lane, close to the Charter Street Bridge entrance to Abbey Park.

Average daily cycle usage across Belgrave Circle was around 350 in Sept 2019, this went up to 425 in Sept 2020, and to 569 in Sept 2021 - a 63% increase on 2019.

Major improvements were completed to Horsefair Street, Pocklingtons Walk and Market Place South before Christmas 2021, footpaths have been reconstructed in high-quality block paving and a new cycle track has been created to provide a much safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists.  

The work was part of a £4million scheme to revamp three busy streets in the area. Along with the improvements to Horsefair Street, work is complete on a revamp of Pocklingtons Walk where footpaths have been realigned and resurfaced, and a new protected contraflow cycle track created to provide a direct link between cycle lanes on Welford Road, Newarke Street, Belvoir Street and Horsefair Street.

The unattractive building at 15 Horsefair Street was demolished to create a much more welcoming pedestrian link at Dolphin Square between Leicester’s historic Town Hall and the Grade II listed Corn Exchange – this provides a much-improved gateway to our famous outdoor market.  The Horsefair Street commemorative bricks which were originally set in 1992 to mark Year of the Maze were carefully removed and have now been re-laid in a new spot nearby on Horsefair Street.

The improvements to Horsefair Street, Pocklingtons Walk and Market Place South have been supported with up to £1.85million from the European Regional Development fund (ERDF), as part of the city council’s successful bid for over £6million of funding to support a range of ambitious transport related projects that aim to cut carbon emissions.