Jeakins Weir has completed work on an attractive new façade at the rear of the Grade II-listed Leicester Corn Exchange. The new structure was needed to hide the tangle of vents, fire escapes and ducts that were exposed when the adjacent 1970s-built market hall was demolished.

The hall was taken down to make way for the city’s new Market Square, as part of the Leicester Market Regeneration Scheme. The Corn Exchange building was constructed in the 1850s by William Flint, and is currently home to a JD Wetherspoons bar. 

The £1.9m contract was awarded to Jeakins Weir by Leicester City Council. The work involved rerouting essential services at the rear of the Corn Exchange and constructing the elegant new facade.

As well as creating an attractive boundary along one side of the revamped market square, the new facade will be used as a large screen to show films and other performances. The council has also revealed plans to project stories about the city’s heritage onto the wall.

Once work on the wall was completed, Jeakins Weir donated the hoarding boards from the site to local arts group, Graffwerk, which creates vibrant large-scale street art. (www.graffwerk.org)