The University of Leicester has gained planning approval for a £14m project to transform a former hall of residence into a residential conference venue.
The project will transform the five-acre former College Hall site in Knighton, which has not been used since 2005, into a high quality 117 en suite bedroom conference facility with break out rooms, dining facilities and 150-seat lecture theatre.
It will be the first time in the University’s history that an all-year round residential conference facility is available - currently residential conferences are only able to be held at University facilities during the holidays. It will also allow the University to dedicate tailored facilities for academic and business conference needs.
Trevor Miller, Conference Sales and Marketing Manager at Leicester Conferences (the University’s dedicated Conferences, meetings and events team) comments: “We are delighted with the University’s approval to develop College Hall into a residential conference venue. The project demonstrates and reinforces the University’s commitment to the UK’s meetings industry and in particular the conference market. The redeveloped College Hall site will be a significant addition to Leicester Conferences portfolio of venues which currently includes residential conference facilities during student vacation periods and year-round day conference availability. The College Hall project will be constructed to a four star standard allowing Leicester Conferences to appeal to a wider audience and strengthen Leicester’s position as a very central and accessible location and a destination of choice for conferences and events.”
Work is due to commence early 2012 with completion set for mid 2013.
