Sole of site remembered with new street names
Westleigh Homes Belgrave Riverside development in Leicester has unveiled new street names that pay tribute to the site’s industrial history.
Located on Ross Walk, the development was formerly the site of the Leicester head office of the British Union Shoe Machinery works. Once the world’s largest manufacturer of footwear machinery and materials, in its place now stand more than 200 new homes that provide city living in spacious family homes.
New homes completed and being built as part of this development will now owe their addresses to the 100 years of history that came before, with street names including Mocassin Avenue, Brogue Street, Sandal Avenue and Union Street. Founder of the factory in 1899, Charles Bennion, will also be honoured with Charles Bennion Walk.
Opened in 1899, the factory was once the city’s largest employer in the 1960s and 1970s, with over 4,500 staff based locally. However since the closure of the company in 2000 the site remained derelict.
Robert Orr, Sales and Marketing Manager at Westleigh Homes, comments, “Whilst it has not been possible to preserve and convert existing buildings on the site – because of their age, size and industrial history – the lasting legacy of the Union Works will be retained in the development’s new street names.
The new names commemorate the key directors in Charles Bennion Walk, Pearson Street and the official name of the works in Union Street. We also wanted to name streets after some of the key shoe types that were produced here to ensure the area keeps a part of the history of the factory, which was a fixture of Leicester city for over a century.”
Without Belgrave Riverside the factory site would almost certainly have remained derelict for many more years. Westleigh, however, embraced the environmental and construction issues to enable this much needed scheme to be developed and this historic part of Leicester to be regenerated. It is also fitting that Belgrave Riverside’s architectural style helps it to stand out as a landmark project in the same way that BUSM was a landmark on Leicester’s skyline.
Perfect for those wanting to settle down in a spacious home, without the need to move away from the city, the development has also released the next phase of 33 new homes earlier than anticipated due to the high volume of interest. Selected three and four bedroom homes are available on the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme and start from £169,950 with a choice of four different home types to choose from. All properties have a high specification and are energy efficient, incorporating high levels of insulation, fuel saving central heating systems and efficient kitchen appliances.
Belgrave Riverside is conveniently located off the A607 Belgrave Road and within easy reach of local amenities, Abbey Park and Leicester city centre. To find out more or to take a look at the show home, the marketing suite is open 7 days a week 10:30am – 5:30pm and visitors are also invited to speak to a mortgage expert on-site at the weekends.
Westleigh Homes builds contemporary new homes across the Midlands from its base in Leicester and designs homes and specifications with modern lifestyles in mind. It ensures its new homes embrace existing buildings, styles and materials, whilst also ensuring the build has a minimal impact on the local environment.
For further information about Westleigh New Homes, visit westleighnewhomes.co.uk.
