Council scraps plan for shopping arcade revamp

Plans for a £1.3m revamp of a shopping arcade in Leicester city centre have been cancelled.

Leicester City Council had intended to refurbish the 1960s-built Malcolm Arcade, which connects Cank Street and Silver Street, but has said it can no longer afford the project.

The authority, which owns the building, said it had been forced to make "substantial" cuts to its capital programme for the 2025/26 financial year.

Traders in the arcade told the BBC they felt they had been let down.

Frank McDonagh, who has run a toy shop in the arcade for five years, said: "I feel really disappointed.

"The footfall through here has been terrible and we need something to help get people coming through.

"We need better lighting and we need new frontages on the entrances.

"That's what we have hoped for, and thought we would get, and it's one of the reasons I just signed a new lease with the council.

"The arcade used to be really popular and have lots of great independent shops.

"But now we have eight or nine empty units and that doesn't help entice customers."

Gillian Kitchener, owner of Button Boutique clothing shop, said: "I'm disappointed but not surprised. The council has talked about this for years but nothing happens.

"It really should look after the building better."

The arcade was built after the demolition of the Royal Opera House theatre, in Silver Street, which closed in 1960.

A council spokesperson said: "Following years of government cuts we are having to take some very difficult decisions so that we can balance our next budget.

"As part of this, we have had to make substantial cuts to our capital programme, and the refurbishment of Malcolm Arcade is one of a number of projects that we won't be able to take forward this year.

"Although the new government clearly understands the financial pressures all councils are under, it has made it clear that there is no extra money available in the short term."

The government has been asked for comment.

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