£11.3m cathedral revamp

IMAGES have been released of how Leicester Cathedral could look after an £11.3 million revamp.

Artist’s impressions of a proposed twostorey heritage learning centre at the front of the grade II*-listed building were disclosed after senior clergy applied for planning permission.

Leicester Cathedral Revealed would need planning permission if a recentlysubmitted bid for Heritage Lottery funding is to succeed.

Planning documents submitted to the city council show the limitations of the building, parts of which date back more than 900 years, making it difficult for officials to balance the cathedral’s primary role as a place of worship with an increase in visitor numbers after the interment of the remains of Richard III.

The documents reveal the cathedral is “keenly aware” the visitor experience is “less than satisfactory” because of a lack of school facilities, toilets, display spaces and a suitable welcome point.

It says the constant flow of visitors has proved challenging to manage without having a negative impact on worship.

It says the space demands an “eitheror” approach, as it is impossible to hold a service while, for example, hosting a group of schoolchildren, adding: “”There is a real conflict between the needs of worship and mission and the experience.”

Part of the cathedral’s plan involves replacing the 1930s-built Old Song School with a stone, terracotta and glass heritage learning centre.

A design report acknowledges there will be a “degree of harm that is caused to the cathedral, its setting and the surrounding heritage assets”.

However, it says the justification for this “is given by the benefits the project brings to the wider community including better settings for worship, creating proper facilities for education and welcoming tourists”.

It adds: “Leicester Cathedral Revealed is a serious and appropriate response to the issues facing the cathedral, balancing the impacts in the historic building and its setting, and the contemporary need for liturgy, worship and mission in the 21st century.”

The plans have been submitted to the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, as well as the city council. Decisions by both are expected in the spring.

If approved, fund-raising will continue throughout 2019 and it is expected the contractors will be on site before the end of next year.

The Heritage Learning Centre is scheduled for completion by mid-2021 and the restoration of the cathedral in 2022. visitor