THE leader of North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) says Coalville's regeneration 'puzzle' is coming together.

Work on the next step in regenerating the town is poised to begin with a contract to develop designs and prepare planning applications for the redevelopment of the former council offices on Whitwick Road.

Progressing under the title of 'Stenson Square Gardens', the project is also proposed to include the public space and car park outside of Stenson House to complement a high-quality housing scheme on the site.

Council cabinet members have agreed to bring in specialists to draw up detailed designs for the scheme which forms part of the Coalville Regeneration Framework – the current blueprint for revitalising the town.

Stenson House will be at the centre of the new development

The council says the preparatory work will ensure the best use of its land in Coalville - and will be funded using a mix of government grants and the council's own funds.

The Council Offices were vacated during 2023 as part of NWLDC's accommodation changes, which saw office staff working partly from home and partly from a refurbished Whitwick Business Centre, and a new Customer Centre opening in Coalville town centre.

Eventually, the vision is to improve the look of this key gateway into the town, linking the London Road public car park to Stenson House.

The council adds it wants to create an attractive public space for socialising and for photographs following weddings within the building.

With a longer term plan for high quality housing on the former Council Offices site, the designs are intended to make sure the public space links well to any residential development.

NWLDC adds that part of the brief for the architects will be to maintain vehicle access to homes on Park Road and to Coalville Bowls Club.

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of NWLDC, said: "We're slowly putting the pieces of the regeneration puzzle together in Coalville, and the Stenson Square Gardens project is the latest piece.

 "We have a lot of positive work going on in the centre of the town – with Marlborough Square and the buildings around it getting investment, and the restored Mother and Child supporting investment in the shopping centre – and it's important that the entrances to the town centre are also attractive.

"We've supported work on Ashby Road and at Mantle Lane Bridge – now it's time to look at the London Road area and what we can do to improve the visual appeal of the historic Stenson House, its gardens and car parking.

"We're hoping to create much-needed good quality housing on the brownfield site that is the empty Council Offices building, and improving the environment in this area will support this plan too."