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Final designs are being drawn up for two major schemes that are set to transform parts of Leicester city centre. The two projects - one for Leicester Market, and the other for a link between

Market Place and Cank Street - have been years in the making. The plan for the market aims to make it “fit for the 21st Century”. The redevelopment proposals have undergone a series of

changes since they were first announced in 2022, after the original scheme to redevelop it was put on hold while Leicester City Council looked at turning it into an events space. Following

backlash from traders over the possibility they might not be allowed to return to their historic home, new proposals to use the square as a shared space for both events and the market were

put forward in October 2024. The second scheme, known as the Cank Street Link, is set to see a new pathway created between Green Dragon Square and the St Martins area. To do this, the

Leicester City Council-owned buildings at 14 and 16 Market Place North will be demolished and their neighbours at numbers 12, 18 and 20 will be refurbished with the intention of renting them

out. The plan, revealed in December 2023, will also see a new shopping area created in the space left by the demolished buildings, and could include units for creative maker and artisan

start-ups, bespoke and higher end retail offers and street food style food and beverage. READ MORE: New bus routes announced for Fosse Park, city and towns Leicester City Council told

LeicestershireLive its teams were “busy” preparing the final designs for both schemes. These will then be submitted to the council’s planning department for approval ahead of any work

beginning. The planning application for the market scheme will be submitted in two phases, a spokeswoman said. The first will cover the public square space, including tree planting, seating,

lighting and landscaping. The spokeswoman said the authority was aiming to submit this at the end of next week. “Further work” is needed on the second phase - the plan for the new market

structures - with that application expected later this summer. The regeneration of the market is still on track to be completed by the end of next year, the spokeswoman added. Market traders

will stay in Green Dragon Square until then. However, not all those with businesses on the market will be moving back to its historic home. The city council said in February that the new

structures would be expected to be for food vendors only, meaning dry goods traders would have to find somewhere else to set up their businesses. City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said at the

time that the authority would be working with the displaced traders to find a city centre location from which they could keep selling their goods. Early suggestions included dry goods stalls

staying in Green Dragon Square, where the market is currently temporarily sited, or moving into the proposed Cank Street Link shopping area. However, the council has now confirmed it is not

considering the latter of those suggestions as an option. It added that the dry goods traders were also able to stay in Green Dragon Square until the end of 2026. The authority said a

planning application was being prepared for the “essential infrastructure” needed for the Cank Street Link scheme, including power supplies and waste management. The spokeswoman added:

“Subject to final confirmation of costs, works could start later in the summer.”