Campus project nominated for top award

A £2million project that transformed a traffic-choked street into a stunning public space has been nominated for a prestigious design award.

The programme to develop Mill Lane, a public right of way which runs through De Montfort University Leicester's (DMU) campus, has been selected as a finalist in this year’s ProCon Awards, which celebrate the best of the built environment in Leicestershire.

Mill Lane was closed to traffic in 2012 by Leicester City Council, which provided an opportunity to create a public space which connected the city centre to the riverside.

It has now been transformed into a striking public pathway, complete with rain gardens which use rainfall and run-off to feed trees and plants. The scheme also includes seating areas, flower beds and the same stone used to give Cathedral Square its own makeover – helping give Leicester a unifying design.

DMU worked with Leicester City Council and Danaher & Walsh civil engineers to deliver the project, which has enabled more people to cycle and walk to and from the city centre to the West End. 

Mill Lane is up against the Rawlins Academy in Quorn and the Tithe Barn, Cosby, for the honours in the small non-residential scheme of the year award category. 

It brings the total number of DMU projects in the ProCon finals to three. The restoration of Leicester Castle into the Leicester Castle Business School is in the running for Regeneration Project of the Year; while the Vijay Patel Building is nominated as Large Non-Residential Scheme of the Year. 

Umesh Desai, Director of Estates & Commercial Services, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have three major campus transformation projects selected as finalists under separate categories for this year's premier property awards in Leicestershire.

“It’s a testament to the impact these projects have had on the university and city. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed at the award ceremony.”

The ProCon Leicestershire Awards are the county’s biggest celebration of the built environment and the people who develop, design and construct winning developments.

This year's awards ceremony, the 15th ProCon Awards, will be held on Thursday 9 November at the King Power Stadium, Leicester.