£750k boost to repair and save historic building
ONE of Leicester’s grade II-listed buildings is set for vital repair work after £750,000 of grants were secured.
The ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Leicester building on the corner of Granby and Bishop Streets is currently at risk of water damage to its historic interior due to a leaky roof.
The former headquarters of the Leicestershire Banking Corporation, which is celebrated as one of the most iconic Victorian masterpieces of architect Joseph Goddard, is currently on the national Buildings at Risk register.
ISKCON has raised around £350,000 of the funding needed for the repair work, which is predicted to cost over £1 million.
The remaining funds will be put up by Historic England; £250,000 will come from the £1.5 million High Street Heritage Action Zone grant set aside in February 2020 for work in both the Granby Street and Church Gate conservation areas.
Historic England has now pledged a further £500,000 to ensure the vital work can be carried out and the building be saved. Deputy city mayor, Councillor Adam Clarke, who is also the city’s heritage champion, said: “Having visited this building to see the extent of the work needed, it was clear the damage to the roof was far worse than anticipated, and the costs of repair higher than anyone first thought.
“Historic England have increased our grant to enable us to fund the work needed, rather than allowing further damage to be caused to this important local landmark.
“We have a duty to take care of the city’s historic buildings to ensure they are preserved for future generations to enjoy.”
The works will include installing an internal scaffold, called a birdcage, to allow access into the glass lantern where the rotten timbers will be replaced. UPVC guttering will be replaced with cast iron, parapet walls will be rebuilt and a new lightning conductor system will be installed.
The ceiling will be repaired using a lime plaster, and the Georgian wired glazing in the glass lantern will be replaced with laminated safety glazing. The timbers, masonry and slate will all be saved and reused where possible.
Pradyumna Pradip Gajjar, president of ISKCON Leicester, said: “This is amazing news for ISKCON Leicester, because it means we can secure the building – make it air and water tight, offer it a completely new roof and take it off the risk register.
“Once the roof works are complete, we can focus on developing the ground floor, and bring that back into full public use for the people of the city. I’m grateful to the city council and Historic England for considering our project as part of the heritage uplift.
“It means so much to ISKCON and to all the people who absolutely love this building.”
The rest of the £1.5 million High Street Heritage Action Zone funds will be used to restore shopfronts and other architectural features; repair and improve historic buildings; bring vacant spaces back in to use; improve the public realm; facilitate training and education opportunities; and celebrate our high streets and give communities a key role in deciding what work they want to see happening.
Businesses, property owners and leaseholders in the area can apply for grants of at least 75 per cent toward reinstating lost architectural features.