‘City of History and Progress’: Heritage and urban development in Leicester 1934 to 2010

Using Leicester as a case study, this thesis examines how the city’s past, in the form of its streets and buildings, has been recognised and utilised by a range of actors between the 1930s and the first decade of the twenty-first century. Through the examination of how this industrial Midlands city balanced the co-existence of its heritage and its progress, in the form of urban development, it shows how cities have reflected and responded to changes in policies and public opinion towards the historic built environment from the 1930s to the 2000s. These changes in public attitudes, government policies and funding sources are evidenced through a chronological examination of planning approaches and interventions that have contributed to the conservation of Leicester’s historic urban fabric. Some interventions were driven by heritage-specific objectives, like the development of conservation areas from the late 1960s, while others were not heritage-specific and were driven by priorities and funding for housing or regeneration. Through the regeneration of the St George’s area of the city the thesis demonstrates how local authorities needed to address the priorities of regional, national and European agencies in order to access funding to provide new uses for former industrial areas. This thesis also shows how heritage was used to promote the city to visitors and businesses from the 1930s to the 1960s. Through an examination of the images used in that promotion, it highlights the difference between the historic monuments and buildings formally recognised and protected by the listing system, and the historic urban fabric valued locally. The thesis demonstrates the contribution of local people in conserving their city through participation in planning the General Improvement Area of Clarendon Park, involvement in specific conservation battles in the city, and efforts to secure listing status and statutory protection for buildings as part of European Architectural Heritage Year.