Socially responsible urban regeneration


Socially responsible urban regeneration

 

The Learning Support Centre’s head office is based in Leicester city centre at the Phoenix Yard close to De Montfort University. The Phoenix yard was created from three semi-derelict Victorian hosiery mills. It is now occupied by a variety of businesses, restaurants and social enterprises. The Learning Support Centre is one of the several residents in this building.

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The regeneration project aimed to breathe life back into these attractive and historic Victorian buildings that had ceased to have any viable industrial purpose and in doing so, would invigorate the local area. The redevelopment project was also a social enterprise which aimed to redevelop the buildings in a socially and environmentally responsible way, with financial surpluses generated from the ownership and operation of Phoenix Yard going to SHARP, a charity that works with homeless and poorly housed people.

The transformation of the building was financed through a combination of grants and loans available to support regeneration projects such as Phoenix Yard. Funding came from the European Regional Development Fund and English Partnerships and the project secured loans from the Local Investment Fund, Triodos Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The Leicester Social Consortium Purchased the Phoenix Yard site in December 1997. Work started on the site in 1998 and it was completed in 2001 at a cost of £1.5 million. Through the re-use of materials embodied in the existing buildings, the project has enhanced the local environment while paving way for sustainable ventures and employment. The Learning Support Centre are passionate about sustainability, using reusable products and urban regeneration as part of their Green Impact award from De Montfort University in which we awarded Gold  and most improved this year.

 

Phoenix Yard is accessible for all and the design of the refurbishment has incorporated many features from Braille lettering on the lift buttons to the high level steel walkways to ensure maximum accessibility to everyone.

The Learning Support Centre is proud to call the Phoenix Yard it’s home and it aims to grow along with this amazing and historic Building. The Learning Support Centre provides specialist disability support services, which includes one to one specialist tuition, coaching, mentoring, note-taking, life skills, transcription services, assistive technology training, personal assistants and personal care, to meet the individual requirements of our clients. If you or your company would benefit from any of our services then please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Written by Felix Omari