Soho Estates has submitted plans for a permanent large-format immersive visitor attraction in Leicester Square in London’s West End.
The company estimates the 50,000 sq ft LSX attraction could attract up to 1.9 million visitors a year, generate £48m in additional annual visitor spending and support around 950 jobs. The visitor attraction will also feature places to eat and drink at street level and a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square.
The application follows almost three years of engagement with local communities, businesses, stakeholders and public bodies. This included a public consultation earlier this year, which reached more than 154,000 people and generated 722 survey responses. Almost 80% of respondents said they were excited by the proposals or interested to learn more.
Fawn James, chief executive of Soho Estates, said: “It’s Leicester Square. It’s one of the world’s best-known entertainment destinations, and it’s the right place to put forward an ambitious vision for the future. The West End doesn’t have a venue like this today. We’ve spent almost three years listening, refining and improving our plans. People expect something extraordinary for Leicester Square, and so do we.”
