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Major £2.2m repair works approved for Curve

BBC Exterior of the Curve theatre in Leicester with a panel missing from its sunbreaker and fencing in front of it, including a red sign directing pedestrians in front of the buildingBBC
Fencing around Curve is to stay in place until autumn 2025

Repair work costing £2.2m will take place on Leicester's Curve Theatre.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby approved the decision on the recommendation of a city council report, with work expected to start later this year.

In May, a panel of the sunbreaker exteriors to the venue came loose and fell into Orton Square, prompting the council to cordon the area off.

The repair works are expected to be completed by autumn 2025, with £1.47m set to come from an existing capital maintenance programme budget and a further £732,000 from the sale of assets.

A narrow passage between a red-brick wall and safety fencing with scaffolding as a roof and yellow foam covers around the scaffolding poles
People are being funnelled under scaffolding to navigate in and out of the theatre

The cordon was put up around the building while investigations were carried out, before fencing was put up until the work is finished.

According to the council report, specialist investigations found the "original fixing strategy had failed in certain areas" when the brise soleil blade fell.

The Curve carries approximately 700 of these blades, each weighing about 330lbs (150kg) each.

Work is now required to ensure the secure fixing of the remaining blades, the report added.

The original contractor which installed the blades went into administration in 2023, meaning it was the city council's responsibility to resolve as the landlord.

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