A new bid to demolish a Loughborough shopping centre has emerged, despite a 100-year-old family business still trading on site.
Code Student Accommodation has reignited its dispute with Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) after submitting a fresh planning application to demolish Carillion Court in Loughborough.
The applicant has asked the council whether they would be able to demolish the shopping centre’s car park, shops, and basement without formal approval – the fourth application of its kind in the last year.
Planning documents argue that previous refusals were based on a law that forbids builders from demolishing only part of a site, with the target land in this case attached to a wider centre via a pedestrian route.
However, the applicant states that there has been a “change in circumstances”, as planning permission to demolish the section with the pedestrian route was granted at a meeting in May 2026.
At the time, Jamie Lewis, the developer’s managing director, said the application to demolish this part of the site was so that archaeological works could be carried out in case the final plans for the student accommodation needed to be changed as a result.
However, that permission is now being used to justify the demolition of the whole block.
Included in the demolition proposal is Tyler’s Department Store, a family business that has been operating in the town for more than 100 years.
Although the developer has expressed interest in acquiring the whole site, including this business, Tyler’s still owns the store from which it trades.
However, there is no law prohibiting builders from applying for demolition permission for a building they do not actually own.
Tyler’s is restricted in its comments due to legal proceedings with Code Student Accommodation, but stressed that it is not against developing the area entirely.
Steve Tyler, director, said: “I have nothing to say on the application other than Mr Lewis is totally within his rights to make an application, and it’s his decision whether or not he wants to do that.
“We have always said we are happy to work with Mr Lewis, and we are not against any development because that would be in all our best interests, so long as it falls in line with our own requirements.”
He added that the council is doing a good job of “following the letter of the law” and reassured customers that the business has no plans to relocate.
The application is currently under consultation, with a target decision date of 14 July set by the council.
CBC is yet to validate any plans suggesting what could be built in place of the shopping centre.
By Caitlin James, Local Democracy Reporter