Council Struggles to Secure Contractor for £22 Million Leicester Station Upgrade
Leicester City Council is facing challenges in finding a contractor for its £22 million railway station redevelopment project
Leicester, UK, Railway Station, Construction, Sir Peter Soulsby
Leicester: So, the city council is having a tough time finding a contractor for that big £22 million revamp of the railway station. They started looking back in December, but only one company showed any interest. Not great, right?
Sir Peter Soulsby, the city mayor, called the situation “very disappointing.” He thinks it reflects the current state of the construction industry. There are loads of projects out there, but not enough companies to take them on.
Now, they’re thinking about breaking the project into smaller phases. This way, more contractors can throw their hats in the ring. Sir Peter is confident they’ll eventually find someone to get the job done.
He mentioned that this isn’t the first time they’ve faced this kind of issue. Sometimes the market just isn’t right, and they have to go back to the drawing board. It’s frustrating, but the main goal is to get the project done well and at a fair price.
When asked why they didn’t just go with the one interested company, he said it’s crucial to ensure they get good value. They want competitive bids instead of just settling for the first offer.
The council is putting in about £5 million for the project, with some help from the government. But there’s a deadline for that government money, which was originally set for March this year.
Sir Peter isn’t worried about losing the funding, though. He’s been keeping the government updated and believes they understand the challenges in finding contractors right now.
Some council members have criticized the plans, especially Patrick Kitterick, who thinks the £5 million investment is excessive, especially when the council is facing financial issues. He’s worried about the budget and believes there are more pressing needs, like addressing homelessness.
In response to the contractor situation, he pointed out that the lack of interest might mean the project is either too ambitious or will need a bigger budget. He warned the council about the risks of moving forward without certainty.
The Conservative group on the council thinks they should focus on projects that provide immediate benefits to the community. Their leader, Hemant Rae Bhatia, emphasized the need for a balanced approach that supports all residents.
Sir Peter, however, believes it would be foolish to abandon the station plans now, especially with government funding on the line. He insists that this project is vital for Leicester and public transport.
The redevelopment will shift the station entrance to Station Street, creating a new pedestrian area where the Parcel Yard pub used to be. They’ll also move pick-up and drop-off points to a parking area behind the station.
Plus, they’re planning to transform the current taxi area into a food hall with space for street food, cafés, and shops. More details on that will come later.