The University of Leicester has had plans to transform the former College Hall site in Knighton into a residential conference venue approved.
The £14m project to develop the Grade II listed building is set to begin in early 2012 and run into mid 2013.
Work is set to begin to transform the five-acre site, into a high quality 117 en-suite bedroom conference facility with breakout 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 can only 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, says: “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 College Hall project will be constructed to a four-star standard allowing Leicester Conferences to appeal to a wider audience for conferences and events.”Work is due to commence early 2012 with completion set for mid 2013
The new project follows the £2.5m redevelopment of the University’s existing primary conference facility. The suite’s transformation with a large central hall able to seat 300 delegates, four seminar rooms and a hospitality area is set to be unveiled by the end of the year.
The University of Leicester is set to complete the redevelopment of its primary conference facilities in Oadby in October. The project will result in the existing conference suite at Gilbert Murray Hall being transformed into a state-of-the-art conference venue consisting of a large central hall, four seminar rooms and a hospitality area.