Welcome to this digital case study of the proposed regeneration of the Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre, created on behalf of Leicester City Council for the students of Babington Academy.
Leicester City Council has identified Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre as a priority for investment. It is important to us that any investment will ensure that the Neighbourhood Centre meets the needs of local residents for many years.
Leicester City Council have previously hosted three stages of public consultation with local residents, initially seeking their views on the current Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre, and later asking their opinions on the proposals for the regeneration of the area.
This website will guide you through what we learned from the public consultations and our initial proposals for the Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre. You will then have the opportunity to complete a short quiz at the end.
Read audio transcriptLook out for red highlighted text like this - it will indicate interactive features on the map.
If you have any questions or need help, please see the
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If these do not answer your question, please raise your hand and ask your teacher.| Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre |
In previous consultations, many members of the community have submitted vivid memories of how Stocking Farm used to be.
Watch the above historical maps to see Stocking Farm through the ages. Then click on the map markers to see fascinating historical images of the Stocking Farm Farmhouse, the former Stocking Farm Youth Centre, and St. Luke's Church!
Until the mid-twentieth century, Stocking Farm lay on the city's outskirts, surrounded by open fields. Today's Farmhouse was built at the turn of the 19th century, slightly to the south of the original farmyard and house located where Woodstock Primary Academy stands today.
A keen sense of community has always been apparent. Did you know
that the local community built St. Luke's Church over several years
as part of its move from Humberstone Road, with construction
starting in April 1961?
However, some later developments around the site have been less
unified, resulting in underused areas that do not contribute to
their full potential. The following pages explore our thoughts on
how this could be addressed.
| Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre | |
 | Historic photographs |
In the second stage of public engagement (October / November 2021), the community told us what was most important to them regarding the regeneration of Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre.
We have listened to the feedback from the local community and have used it to inform our proposals. Click on the map markers to find out more about our plans!
They told us that:
| Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre | |
 | Proposed improvements |
 | New traffic calmed street |
 | Improved greenway/footpath |
 | Existing footpath |
 | New homes |
 | Retained buildings |
 | Car park |
 | Community Shop, Community Hall & Outdoor Community Space |
The proposals look to balance the needs for new council housing with
the existing community's needs. The first phase has already
commenced by turning the former youth centre into a new Community
Shop, a community cafe open to everyone and a Community Zone
(indoor community space available to hire).
Some of the existing buildings which are either underused or of poor
quality will need to be removed, including the community hall,
Healthy Living Centre, garages and Best One & Social Club.
The Multi-Use Games Area, whilst well-used in its current location,
will not be ideal for residents when surrounded by new housing due
to noise issues. We are currently considering other nearby sites for
a new ball court facility to replace the current court.
Click the button below to show the existing uses on the map, and to see what will happen to them! Click on the map markers for more information on the proposals.
(Click on the button above to see these features on the map)
| Existing shops and flats to be retained |
 | Existing buildings to be re-used and refurbished |
| Existing buildings & uses proposed for removal |
 | More information about the proposals |
The proposals include:
The Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre development aims to achieve
high environmental standards.
We aim to reduce the site's carbon footprint and reduce the overall
reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels (e.g. coal, petroleum,
natural gas).
The proposals aim to retain and enhance our natural and green
environment by keeping existing trees (where possible) and designing
landscapes that create wildlife habitats.
Click on each of the information markers to find out more about these elements and to see what we are proposing.
Our approach to re-imagining the Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre
was to keep as much we could and only build new where necessary.
The parade of shops and the 5 existing flats above it will be
improved, keeping shopping local and convenient.
Where existing buildings are being removed, we plan to salvage
materials and re-use them on-site wherever possible to avoid the
energy and cost of lorries taking materials away.
The existing footpath will be re-surfaced and re-lit to feel safer.
New footpaths will link homes to a new pedestrian-friendly road to
promote walking and cycling rather than car use when travelling
locally for short journeys.
 | Building design |
 | Landscaping |
| Transport & connectivity |
 | Existing bus routes (to remain) |
 | Illustrative path of the sun |
All new homes at Stocking Farm will be council homes, providing for
a mixture of families of different sizes and residents with some
more specialist needs in-line with the council's housing needs for
the area.
The houses and flats are designed to the latest National Space
Standards, meaning that rooms are good sizes, are flexible in how
they can be furnished and have ample space for storage.
Inside, they will be bright and daylit with generous windows looking
out onto a private garden, or balconies where flats have been
proposed. Most homes will have a modern open plan kitchen/dining
area with a separate living space. Upstairs bedrooms share a
good-sized family bathroom.
Click on the map markers to view street view sketches of the proposals, and to find out more about the houses.
We've given lots of thought to making these homes warm and
comfortable with new heating systems whilst keeping energy bills
down as low as possible.
They will have lots of insulation in the walls and roof, and triple
glazed windows – to contain the heating residents use, for warmth.
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) sit outside the house (instead of a gas
boiler inside) and draw warmth from the outside air to provide hot
water and heating inside.
A simple ventilation system provides fresh air but does not waste
heat to the outside. Rooftop solar panels on all of the south-facing
roofs will help to reduce electricity costs further.
On the outside, homes will be in keeping with the area, made with a
mixture of familiar new and reclaimed materials-brick, tile, render
and wood with coloured doorways to distinguish each home.
Houses are separated from the pavement by a low wall and a front
gate with recycling, bin storage and a space for the air source heat
pump in front of the house.
| Street view sketches of proposed house designs |
| More information about the houses |
Inspired by the existing green verges along road edges that
characterise Stocking Farm, new footpaths will have soft planted
borders and new trees to create a pleasant green environment and
strengthen local wildlife habitats.
Low-level garden walls to the terraced houses will help create a
sense of openness whilst ensuring the well-lit streets and pathways
are observed and feel safe for residents, whilst helping to maintain
a sense of privacy.
New main stairwells will be constructed for the new and existing
flats off Marwood Road to provide a safe and well-lit access for
residents. Secure bike storage will be provided onstreet for these
flats.
Click the button below to highlight all proposed car parking spaces on the map! Click on the map markers to find out more about the streets.
Careful consideration has been given to parking, attempting to
balance the needs of the residents and local community whilst
creating a pleasant, safe environment to walk through and live in.
The new central road will contain several parking bays along its
length. Additional residents parking will be located within a
landscaped area north of St. Luke's Church Hall.
Community open space - a new outdoor community space next to the
Community Zone - will be created, with designs to be developed with
the community for a playground aimed at younger children
(2-8 years), seating and a small community garden and wildlife area.
A new pedestrian crossing along Marwood Road, connecting to the
public footpath towards the school creates a safe location for the
residents to cross to get to the community space and shops.
| Proposed Outdoor Community Space |
 | Improved footpath |
| Proposed pedestrian crossing |
| Proposed central road |
 | Proposed car parking |
| Street view sketch of new central road |
| More information about the streets |
You can now complete a short quiz to test everything you have learnt today about the proposed regeneration of Stocking Farm.
If you need any help, you can always refer back to the information on this webpage, or you can ask your teacher.
An
Engaged Space community engagement on behalf of Leicester City Council.
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