Decision details

Decision Maker: City Mayor (Individual Decision)

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Decision:

Reasons for the decision:

Alternative options:

Publication date: 26/11/2025

Date of decision: 26/11/2025

Effective from: 04/12/2025

This decision has been called in by:

• Councillor Patrick Kitterick who writes We the undersigned wish to "Call-In" the decision to swap land as described in the published Executive Decision "Land exchange to enable regeneration at Midland Street / Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter" As the transaction is a 1-2-1 sale we have doubts, on the basis of the published report, about whether this transaction represents value for money for the citizens of Leicester. Our doubts are on the basis of the following concerns which fall into fall into two categories, valuation and strategic issues. Valuation Issues 1. The plot of land the City Council is giving up is clearly larger that the plot of land we are receiving in exchange. 2. The plot of land the City Council is giving up has at least one tenant who appears to be in situ "Wise Origin", yet no reference is made to the loss of rental or legal tenancy issues that may be involved in this transfer. The council also is giving up a number of other buildings which appear to be in a poorer state of repair but may be viable for future rental. This compares with the land we are acquiring which has no buildings in place, with the site having been recently cleared. We are, therefore, puzzled as to how any valuation can assess that the plot to be acquired by the City Council is more valuable than the one to be ceded. Strategic Issues In light of the reference to achieving an attractive gateway to the Phoenix Building amongst other strategic issues in the area. A. The gateway to Phoenix is already achievable by the ownership of Plot C as detailed in the report. B. The gateway to Phoenix could have been further enhanced had the City Mayor not sold the freehold of 50 St Georges Street for £1 C. The plot to be swapped fronts onto the Inner Ring Road, so the use, quality and design of any building in this location will be at least as important to the development of the area if not more so. D. The plot to be swapped is adjacent to the Inner Ring Road so it fetters any further changes to the layout of access to the St Georges area from the ring road in this location E. The loss of 50 St Georges Street and Plot B mean that there is only a relatively narrow pinch point in the City Council's control between the two plots of land in developing the ambition for an attractive entrance to the Phoenix when entering from the Railway Station part of the City Centre. We can see the rationale in acquiring more land in this area, to assemble a coherent site for development, but this proposal ironically appears to take us one step forward and two steps back in this respect, by giving up a more valuable site, both financially and strategically, for a less attractive site, whilst paying £400,000 for the privilege of doing so. For these reasons we would like to call this decision so the rationale for it can undergo further scrutiny. "
• Councillor Nigel Porter who writes We the undersigned wish to "Call-In" the decision to swap land as described in the published Executive Decision "Land exchange to enable regeneration at Midland Street / Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter" As the transaction is a 1-2-1 sale we have doubts, on the basis of the published report, about whether this transaction represents value for money for the citizens of Leicester. Our doubts are on the basis of the following concerns which fall into fall into two categories, valuation and strategic issues. Valuation Issues 1. The plot of land the City Council is giving up is clearly larger that the plot of land we are receiving in exchange. 2. The plot of land the City Council is giving up has at least one tenant who appears to be in situ "Wise Origin", yet no reference is made to the loss of rental or legal tenancy issues that may be involved in this transfer. The council also is giving up a number of other buildings which appear to be in a poorer state of repair but may be viable for future rental. This compares with the land we are acquiring which has no buildings in place, with the site having been recently cleared. We are, therefore, puzzled as to how any valuation can assess that the plot to be acquired by the City Council is more valuable than the one to be ceded. Strategic Issues In light of the reference to achieving an attractive gateway to the Phoenix Building amongst other strategic issues in the area. A. The gateway to Phoenix is already achievable by the ownership of Plot C as detailed in the report. B. The gateway to Phoenix could have been further enhanced had the City Mayor not sold the freehold of 50 St Georges Street for £1 C. The plot to be swapped fronts onto the Inner Ring Road, so the use, quality and design of any building in this location will be at least as important to the development of the area if not more so. D. The plot to be swapped is adjacent to the Inner Ring Road so it fetters any further changes to the layout of access to the St Georges area from the ring road in this location E. The loss of 50 St Georges Street and Plot B mean that there is only a relatively narrow pinch point in the City Council's control between the two plots of land in developing the ambition for an attractive entrance to the Phoenix when entering from the Railway Station part of the City Centre. We can see the rationale in acquiring more land in this area, to assemble a coherent site for development, but this proposal ironically appears to take us one step forward and two steps back in this respect, by giving up a more valuable site, both financially and strategically, for a less attractive site, whilst paying £400,000 for the privilege of doing so. For these reasons we would like to call this decision so the rationale for it can undergo further scrutiny. "
• Councillor Hemant Rae Bhatia who writes We the undersigned wish to "Call-In" the decision to swap land as described in the published Executive Decision "Land exchange to enable regeneration at Midland Street / Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter" As the transaction is a 1-2-1 sale we have doubts, on the basis of the published report, about whether this transaction represents value for money for the citizens of Leicester. Our doubts are on the basis of the following concerns which fall into fall into two categories, valuation and strategic issues. Valuation Issues 1. The plot of land the City Council is giving up is clearly larger that the plot of land we are receiving in exchange. 2. The plot of land the City Council is giving up has at least one tenant who appears to be in situ "Wise Origin", yet no reference is made to the loss of rental or legal tenancy issues that may be involved in this transfer. The council also is giving up a number of other buildings which appear to be in a poorer state of repair but may be viable for future rental. This compares with the land we are acquiring which has no buildings in place, with the site having been recently cleared. We are, therefore, puzzled as to how any valuation can assess that the plot to be acquired by the City Council is more valuable than the one to be ceded. Strategic Issues In light of the reference to achieving an attractive gateway to the Phoenix Building amongst other strategic issues in the area. A. The gateway to Phoenix is already achievable by the ownership of Plot C as detailed in the report. B. The gateway to Phoenix could have been further enhanced had the City Mayor not sold the freehold of 50 St Georges Street for £1 C. The plot to be swapped fronts onto the Inner Ring Road, so the use, quality and design of any building in this location will be at least as important to the development of the area if not more so. D. The plot to be swapped is adjacent to the Inner Ring Road so it fetters any further changes to the layout of access to the St Georges area from the ring road in this location E. The loss of 50 St Georges Street and Plot B mean that there is only a relatively narrow pinch point in the City Council's control between the two plots of land in developing the ambition for an attractive entrance to the Phoenix when entering from the Railway Station part of the City Centre. We can see the rationale in acquiring more land in this area, to assemble a coherent site for development, but this proposal ironically appears to take us one step forward and two steps back in this respect, by giving up a more valuable site, both financially and strategically, for a less attractive site, whilst paying £400,000 for the privilege of doing so. For these reasons we would like to call this decision so the rationale for it can undergo further scrutiny. "
• Councillor Yogesh Chauhan who writes We the undersigned wish to "Call-In" the decision to swap land as described in the published Executive Decision "Land exchange to enable regeneration at Midland Street / Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter" As the transaction is a 1-2-1 sale we have doubts, on the basis of the published report, about whether this transaction represents value for money for the citizens of Leicester. Our doubts are on the basis of the following concerns which fall into fall into two categories, valuation and strategic issues. Valuation Issues 1. The plot of land the City Council is giving up is clearly larger that the plot of land we are receiving in exchange. 2. The plot of land the City Council is giving up has at least one tenant who appears to be in situ "Wise Origin", yet no reference is made to the loss of rental or legal tenancy issues that may be involved in this transfer. The council also is giving up a number of other buildings which appear to be in a poorer state of repair but may be viable for future rental. This compares with the land we are acquiring which has no buildings in place, with the site having been recently cleared. We are, therefore, puzzled as to how any valuation can assess that the plot to be acquired by the City Council is more valuable than the one to be ceded. Strategic Issues In light of the reference to achieving an attractive gateway to the Phoenix Building amongst other strategic issues in the area. A. The gateway to Phoenix is already achievable by the ownership of Plot C as detailed in the report. B. The gateway to Phoenix could have been further enhanced had the City Mayor not sold the freehold of 50 St Georges Street for £1 C. The plot to be swapped fronts onto the Inner Ring Road, so the use, quality and design of any building in this location will be at least as important to the development of the area if not more so. D. The plot to be swapped is adjacent to the Inner Ring Road so it fetters any further changes to the layout of access to the St Georges area from the ring road in this location E. The loss of 50 St Georges Street and Plot B mean that there is only a relatively narrow pinch point in the City Council's control between the two plots of land in developing the ambition for an attractive entrance to the Phoenix when entering from the Railway Station part of the City Centre. We can see the rationale in acquiring more land in this area, to assemble a coherent site for development, but this proposal ironically appears to take us one step forward and two steps back in this respect, by giving up a more valuable site, both financially and strategically, for a less attractive site, whilst paying £400,000 for the privilege of doing so. For these reasons we would like to call this decision so the rationale for it can undergo further scrutiny. "
• Councillor Paul Westley who writes We the undersigned wish to "Call-In" the decision to swap land as described in the published Executive Decision "Land exchange to enable regeneration at Midland Street / Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter" As the transaction is a 1-2-1 sale we have doubts, on the basis of the published report, about whether this transaction represents value for money for the citizens of Leicester. Our doubts are on the basis of the following concerns which fall into fall into two categories, valuation and strategic issues. Valuation Issues 1. The plot of land the City Council is giving up is clearly larger that the plot of land we are receiving in exchange. 2. The plot of land the City Council is giving up has at least one tenant who appears to be in situ "Wise Origin", yet no reference is made to the loss of rental or legal tenancy issues that may be involved in this transfer. The council also is giving up a number of other buildings which appear to be in a poorer state of repair but may be viable for future rental. This compares with the land we are acquiring which has no buildings in place, with the site having been recently cleared. We are, therefore, puzzled as to how any valuation can assess that the plot to be acquired by the City Council is more valuable than the one to be ceded. Strategic Issues In light of the reference to achieving an attractive gateway to the Phoenix Building amongst other strategic issues in the area. A. The gateway to Phoenix is already achievable by the ownership of Plot C as detailed in the report. B. The gateway to Phoenix could have been further enhanced had the City Mayor not sold the freehold of 50 St Georges Street for £1 C. The plot to be swapped fronts onto the Inner Ring Road, so the use, quality and design of any building in this location will be at least as important to the development of the area if not more so. D. The plot to be swapped is adjacent to the Inner Ring Road so it fetters any further changes to the layout of access to the St Georges area from the ring road in this location E. The loss of 50 St Georges Street and Plot B mean that there is only a relatively narrow pinch point in the City Council's control between the two plots of land in developing the ambition for an attractive entrance to the Phoenix when entering from the Railway Station part of the City Centre. We can see the rationale in acquiring more land in this area, to assemble a coherent site for development, but this proposal ironically appears to take us one step forward and two steps back in this respect, by giving up a more valuable site, both financially and strategically, for a less attractive site, whilst paying £400,000 for the privilege of doing so. For these reasons we would like to call this decision so the rationale for it can undergo further scrutiny. "
• Councillor Scott Kennedy-Lount who writes We the undersigned wish to "Call-In" the decision to swap land as described in the published Executive Decision "Land exchange to enable regeneration at Midland Street / Southampton Street in the Cultural Quarter" As the transaction is a 1-2-1 sale we have doubts, on the basis of the published report, about whether this transaction represents value for money for the citizens of Leicester. Our doubts are on the basis of the following concerns which fall into fall into two categories, valuation and strategic issues. Valuation Issues 1. The plot of land the City Council is giving up is clearly larger that the plot of land we are receiving in exchange. 2. The plot of land the City Council is giving up has at least one tenant who appears to be in situ "Wise Origin", yet no reference is made to the loss of rental or legal tenancy issues that may be involved in this transfer. The council also is giving up a number of other buildings which appear to be in a poorer state of repair but may be viable for future rental. This compares with the land we are acquiring which has no buildings in place, with the site having been recently cleared. We are, therefore, puzzled as to how any valuation can assess that the plot to be acquired by the City Council is more valuable than the one to be ceded. Strategic Issues In light of the reference to achieving an attractive gateway to the Phoenix Building amongst other strategic issues in the area. A. The gateway to Phoenix is already achievable by the ownership of Plot C as detailed in the report. B. The gateway to Phoenix could have been further enhanced had the City Mayor not sold the freehold of 50 St Georges Street for £1 C. The plot to be swapped fronts onto the Inner Ring Road, so the use, quality and design of any building in this location will be at least as important to the development of the area if not more so. D. The plot to be swapped is adjacent to the Inner Ring Road so it fetters any further changes to the layout of access to the St Georges area from the ring road in this location E. The loss of 50 St Georges Street and Plot B mean that there is only a relatively narrow pinch point in the City Council's control between the two plots of land in developing the ambition for an attractive entrance to the Phoenix when entering from the Railway Station part of the City Centre. We can see the rationale in acquiring more land in this area, to assemble a coherent site for development, but this proposal ironically appears to take us one step forward and two steps back in this respect, by giving up a more valuable site, both financially and strategically, for a less attractive site, whilst paying £400,000 for the privilege of doing so. For these reasons we would like to call this decision so the rationale for it can undergo further scrutiny. "

Accompanying Documents:

• Land Swap exec report final PDF 214 KB
• Decision Notice - Land exchange 20.11 PDF 79 KB