University to carry out repairs on listed building

Plans to repair and replace roofing and brickwork on a listed building have been submitted by the University of Leicester.

In documents submitted to Leicester City Council, the university said the Fielding Johnson Building needed work to prevent further deterioration of the site.

The building was first built in 1837 and became the Leicestershire County Lunatic Asylum, before acting as a military hospital during World War One.

Work has been designed to maintain the current appearance and architectural characteristics of the building while improving the condition of the building fabric, the application said.

Within the papers, the university said the building's slate roof will be lifted and relayed with a "significant portion" of the original slates expected to be reused.

Work will also be carried out to replace a number of metallic window frames for more traditional wooden ones, while some of the brickwork, which is in "poor condition", will be repaired or replaced.

Leicester City Council will review the plans before deciding whether to refuse or approve them.

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