Canopy Launch Marks Major Milestone for Leicester’s Creative Industries

On 12th March 2026, Leicester celebrated the official launch of Canopy Leicester Creative Workspace, an exciting new development that is set to strengthen the city’s growing creative and design sector.

Located at the renowned LCB Depot, Canopy represents a remarkable transformation of a cluster of former factory buildings in Leicester city centre. Previously known as Pilot’s House, the site was owned by Leicester City Council and has now been carefully redeveloped to create a vibrant hub for creative businesses.

The regeneration project has been years in the making. Since 2019, Leicester City Council has been working to restore and revitalise five heritage buildings, creating more than 30,000 square feet of high-quality workspace designed specifically to support creative industries. The result is a thoughtfully designed environment where enterprise, innovation and collaboration can thrive.

The £14.6 million development represents a major investment in Leicester’s creative future. The council contributed around one third of the funding, with the remainder provided through the UK Levelling Up Fund and supporting partners.

Once fully operational, Canopy is expected to support around 250 jobs in the city centre, providing a base for businesses across design, creative technology, and the wider cultural sector.

The name Canopy is particularly fitting, creating a supportive space where businesses and ideas can grow and flourish under one roof.

The launch event was attended by key figures involved in the project, including Peter Chandler, Altaf Ahmed and James Burkmar, who arrived looking especially dapper in a navy suit for the occasion, along with Fashion-Enter Ltd CEO and ATMF Chair Jenny Holloway.

As Leicester continues to champion creativity, innovation and enterprise, the opening of Canopy represents another important step in the city’s regeneration.