Leicester's multi-million pound project to transform the city centre's main shopping streets has been completed.

After two and a half years in which the city has centre has been revamped and improved with new streets and public spaces, Leicester City Council is set to hand over the completed works to the city’s residents.

The council's streets and spaces scheme, which began in January 2006, has involved pedestrianising High Street, the area at the Clock Tower, Gallowtree Gate, Market Place Approach, Market Street and the Lanes area in order to create a circuit of the city’s main retail areas.

There has also been work to improve Granby Street, Belvoir Street and to complete the link between Market Street, Hotel Street, Loseby Lane and Carts Lane.

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High-quality granite paving, new street furniture, feature lighting, new street signs for visitors and over 30 trees have also been installed.

The work has been carried out to support the huge investment in regeneration in the city, in conjunction with the development of the prestigious Highcross Leicester shopping and leisure complex.

Leicester City Council is investing over £22 million in the public realm works, including the Streets and Spaces works which complement the creation of the £350million Highcross Leicester complex, and the Cultural Quarter infrastructure programmes linked to the £61million Curve performing arts centre, which is due to open this winter.

Leicester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Patrick Kitterick said: "The city centre regeneration has brought huge changes and improvements to Leicester, and we are justifiably proud of the work that has been done.

"It has involved a lot of hard work from everyone involved, and the result is a vibrant city centre and new public spaces and streets which make the city more inviting to pedestrians.

"It is an honour to be able to hand these completed streets back to the city's residents."

(CD)