This Swanswell Initiative has really annoyed me. I havent seen that drawing for a while and forgot how good it was, how much hope it had. The plans now are really bad, it's not going to do anything. It's not the major initiative now that they want it to be, it's basically filling in gaps that should have been filled a while ago and moving stuff around. It WILL NOT regenerate the area on the scale that they proposed. Just flatten the ring road it's simple, one thing, thats all. The marina and park bit looks really good in that drawing, would have been great. Now the park is going to stay a dump as it's under that bit of the ringroad, no link with the centre.

This happens all the time. They put these awsome plans out there and then just say oh actually no.

I can bet the leisure centre will get sold, knocked down then they'll decide they cant rebuild it anywhere and that will be lost.

Incedentally, if they want to stop using the car park above WO thats a big case for knocking the whole centre down and starting again there with that new company buying it? That would be good.

Lame lame lame lame lame lame. I give up. :ohno:

It aint as easy as you might initially think - politics is why all of the Swanswell plans have been changed. The Conservatives have pretty much complete control over what IS and ISNT done - so thats who you should be blaming.

On a more trivial note the City Council are trying to acquire the Telegraph building - i say bomb it!!!

With the Evening Telegraph up for sale now, the council might be able to acquire it.

The ring road is staying. The conservatives want a 'feature bridge' over a re-aligned white-street - i.e. something with maybe an arched structure. Remember once Junction 2 is removed it'll only be 4 lanes wide there, as opposed to the current 8.

Part of the land created through the removal of the slips will become a new coach park, while the other side will probably be development land for apartments. The current ambulance access road off of foleshill road / junction 1 will be opened to general traffic into hillfields only. Swanswell Street will be turned into a 2-way operation road with bus priority for PrimeLines and Sprint. Lloyds pharmacy may go - with a new road from there through to Foleshill Road at Halfords. This road will then further link through to the Canal Basin.

The middle school is applying to move to the remaining part of the City College site. The old school will then be redeveloped and the swimming baths sold off to developers. Ultraseal and the carparks under the ringroad between Junc 2 and 3 will most likely also be redevEloped - however the ring road is staying elevated here. Part of Whitefriars carpark (the part not under the ringroad) which is next to Whitefriars pub and the big red uni building is also being sold off for development. This will fund a new multistorey behind the courts and police station which is currently a surface carpark.

The old hospital site will be redeveloped with a grid of STREETS! funded through developers who are interested in developing that area.

The areas between AXA and Junction 2 is planned for a major office development, some of which will front Junction 1. This includes the doomed sorting office and surface carpark and warehouses. There will most likely be an additional MSCP close to the ring road side of this area.

The council want any redevelopment of West Orchards to include the relocation of the existing car park which currently lies above the centre - as this carpark is renowned for causing queues and delays to other traffic on Corporation Street and even as far as the Radford Road. They will be looking to have the MSCP rebuilt on the other side of Corporation Street where it can be served off of Upper Well Street.

I hope this answers all of your questions.

P.S. No new pool is planned; however Swanswell Park will be expanded towards the City Centre.

Thanks for the news... Interesting, but also hugely disappointing.

Sounds absolutely terrible. A "feature bridge"?

The car parking issue is mind boggling - they're just about to build a huge IKEA in the city centre, yet turn around and complain about traffic problems at West Orchards? Are they living on another planet?!? What "other" traffic on Corporation Street? It doesn't go anywhere apart from, um, West Orchards. There's nothing down there apart from a bunch of closed down shops!!!!!

This sounds like a cheap, watered down project and may look a complete mess, with scraps of development in odd positions around the flyover.

Bridges for roads don't form features. Natural, surface level streets form features. Venues for arts and culture form features. Cheap apartment blocks squashed around flyovers will always be shit and ugly, no matter how much they tart it up with archways and metal piping.

I'll believe Sprint when I see it - cruising empty all day up to the Ricoh Arena and back again.

By the way, isn't there a huge bus depot in the middle of all this? What are they going to do with that? I can't see much land being freed up by removing the junction... And I can't see many people rushing to buy apartments in such a "prime" location... Mmmmm... Hillfields! LOL.

I do hope the post office goes - that building is disgusting!!!!! So are all the rest of the shacks and temporary structures around there. So some of it sounds good.

It aint as easy as you might initially think - politics is why all of the Swanswell plans have been changed. The Conservatives have pretty much complete control over what IS and ISNT done - so thats who you should be blaming.

Yup, and I shall be ensuring they don't get my vote in May. Why we let these idiotic busyboddies do this is beyond me. All it takes is for a bunch of pensioners to whinge about things and they're backing down. It's shocking - another generation's going to have to put with the shitness of Coventry... NOT me!!!! As soon as the baby's born I'm going to start looking for another job... This city is just shit.

With the Evening Telegraph up for sale now, the council might be able to acquire it.

I doubt Coventry will have its own newspaper in the future - the current local paper is pretty poor, more like a tabloid. I suspect it'll end up just being part of the Brummy papers just with a few different pages.

I've cancelled my subscription to it already. Dreadful rag.

This Swanswell Initiative has really annoyed me. I havent seen that drawing for a while and forgot how good it was, how much hope it had. The plans now are really bad, it's not going to do anything. It's not the major initiative now that they want it to be, it's basically filling in gaps that should have been filled a while ago and moving stuff around. It WILL NOT regenerate the area on the scale that they proposed. Just flatten the ring road it's simple, one thing, thats all. The marina and park bit looks really good in that drawing, would have been great. Now the park is going to stay a dump as it's under that bit of the ringroad, no link with the centre.

This happens all the time. They put these awsome plans out there and then just say oh actually no.

I can bet the leisure centre will get sold, knocked down then they'll decide they cant rebuild it anywhere and that will be lost.

Incedentally, if they want to stop using the car park above WO thats a big case for knocking the whole centre down and starting again there with that new company buying it? That would be good.

Lame lame lame lame lame lame. I give up. :ohno:

A few years back, the whole Swanswell plan depended on the huge amount of land that lowering the ringroad and removing the two junctions would free up. This could be sold and used to fund the rest of the project. Now they are keeping it, they will not have the cash to do any of these great plans. This is why it's ended up being a watered down version with none of the grand plans of a few years ago.

I doubt it'll amount to much, to be honest - I think the area that's going to really move up is the Butts - with Butts Apartments, the college development, Friargate and the proximity to Earlsdon, which is Coventry's only "desirable" area for graduate types and professionals, really. This is the place to watch out for. This the only part of Coventry than can perhaps have some of natural organic growth. It's not got the problem of the ringroad to content with, and is near the station...

Swanswell is just a turd polishing excercise.

i really dont know why people on this site think coventry is so bad, its not even half as bad as you guys make out.

I'm not trying to make it out to be bad, personally I like it, I wouldn't be here otherwise. However, it has a lot of problems. Many could be fixed with just some sensible planning and a bit of logic but it seems to always be the most illogical, worst, short term solution. Personally I think Coventry could be brilliant, but swanswell would have gone a long way to achieving that and now it's not going to happen. I love the city which is why it annoys me so much that descisions like that are alowed to be made, and it never really seems to be challenged or questioned to an appropriate extent.

Is there ANYTHING we can do to sort this? Or at least raise some awareness?

Incidentaly, I know its all political, thats what is more annoying often, the system is obviously flawed when it comes to things like this, but it's not going to change. It is the conservatives that I'm blaming most of the time when I go on a rant.

Thanks for the info by the way, it's great to be kept up to date, just got carried away with frustration. Bring on friarsgate

i really dont know why people on this site think coventry is so bad, its not even half as bad as you guys make out.

No, it's worse. It's got an awful nightlife geared towards Chavs and kids, it's got virtually no music venues or cultural venues - apart from Warwick Arts Centre, which is 4 miles out, and named after a different town.

This year I've travelled to different towns and cities to see bands, go shopping, have a drink, etc, etc. I rarely set foot inside Coventry's ringroad. Why? There's no point. It's a dismal place. Not only building wise, purely because there's nothing there apart from a collection of downmarket chain bars, vomit smeared pavements & gangs of drunks.

It's a bloody awful place.

I'm not trying to make it out to be bad, personally I like it, I wouldn't be here otherwise. However, it has a lot of problems. Many could be fixed with just some sensible planning and a bit of logic but it seems to always be the most illogical, worst, short term solution. Personally I think Coventry could be brilliant, but swanswell would have gone a long way to achieving that and now it's not going to happen. I love the city which is why it annoys me so much that descisions like that are alowed to be made, and it never really seems to be challenged or questioned to an appropriate extent.

Is there ANYTHING we can do to sort this? Or at least raise some awareness?

I like the area I live in. The rest of the place could be bulldozed tomorrow and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. I wouldn't notice. That's the sad thing. I travel out all the time. There's a great history here, and some excellent remains of that history, but that can't make a city into somewhere that people want to live, work and play. In fact, sometimes the past seems like a hindrance, something that's getting in the way.

Cov City council need to look at the outside world's perception of the city - they may be bringing 15,000 jobs with Friargate, but only a fraction of those will want to live in Coventry. People don't want to live in somewhere that's ugly and depressing and, well, boring. Coventry's been recycling the same population for years. Static. Two Universities, its graduates fleeing (We used to joke about that!) as soon as they finish?

The same happens with graduates in Birmingham; all of them that i know are working in Manchester or London now. Its a Midlands thing in general - its still not shaken off its manufacturing past.

i do agree that coventry has a lack in music venues, but the nightlife in general isnt that bad, every city has there chav clubes, but if chav clubes are all u can find in coventry then you have not really look that hard, theres some really nice places around their just hidden away. Affter going through the going out and getting drunk stage of life i can honestly say i have never had a boring night in coventry or run short on things to do.

i do agree that coventry has a lack in music venues, but the nightlife in general isnt that bad, every city has there chav clubes, but if chav clubes are all u can find in coventry then you have not really look that hard, theres some really nice places around their just hidden away. Affter going through the going out and getting drunk stage of life i can honestly say i have never had a boring night in coventry or run short on things to do.

And you know what - once the budget and other types of hotels open up we'll see the number of people going out increase - on a Saturday night in Northampton the hotels are buzzing with people going on the piss who've come in from other towns... its gonna make the city centre scene more 'viable'.

On the other hand, the effect of this influx is that Northampton town centre's seen by locals as being a no-go area after a certain time, and there's always some alcohol-fuelled attacks in the local newspaper. Going back around half a decade or so now, there was a lot of disappointment that seemingly every time a shop closed down it wasn't replaced with another shop but with a bar. But Northampton as a town has been mismanaged for ages! It effectively had first refusal on the IKEA at Milton Keynes, but the borough council cocked that one up.

:ohno:

The same happens with graduates in Birmingham; all of them that i know are working in Manchester or London now. Its a Midlands thing in general - its still not shaken off its manufacturing past.

Interesting you should say that, but a lot of my colleagues at work want to move away from the midlands as they find it a bit depressing.

i do agree that coventry has a lack in music venues, but the nightlife in general isnt that bad, every city has there chav clubes, but if chav clubes are all u can find in coventry then you have not really look that hard, theres some really nice places around their just hidden away. Affter going through the going out and getting drunk stage of life i can honestly say i have never had a boring night in coventry or run short on things to do.

There are 2 places in Coventry I would drink in: Whitefriars and Browns. I've been drinking in Browns for 10 years. Last time I went there, they refused to let me in. The rest of places are rubbish, apart from maybe Dogma, but that's not really my sort of thing, even though I think it's a good place.

I travel elsewhere and make a day of it - a bit of shopping, perhaps a museum or art gallery, a bite to eat, and then some live music or a play/theatre. You can't do this in Coventry. There's no reason for me to ever go into Coventry City centre.

In the last year I've been into Coventry City centre in an evening maybe 6 times - three of those were for work outings, and were mainly to eat.

I never run short of things to do - I travel elsewhere!!!!!

And you know what - once the budget and other types of hotels open up we'll see the number of people going out increase - on a Saturday night in Northampton the hotels are buzzing with people going on the piss who've come in from other towns... its gonna make the city centre scene more 'viable'.

Great. A lot of people coming in to go out on the piss. It's already full of drunken louts.

it may make it viable for pissheads and chain bars, but I'll still be travelling elsewhere to see live music! And I tend to avoid places filled with alcohol fuelled retards.

The ring road is staying. The conservatives want a 'feature bridge' over a re-aligned white-street - i.e. something with maybe an arched structure. Remember once Junction 2 is removed it'll only be 4 lanes wide there, as opposed to the current 8.

Part of the land created through the removal of the slips will become a new coach park, while the other side will probably be development land for apartments. The current ambulance access road off of foleshill road / junction 1 will be opened to general traffic into hillfields only. Swanswell Street will be turned into a 2-way operation road with bus priority for PrimeLines and Sprint. Lloyds pharmacy may go - with a new road from there through to Foleshill Road at Halfords. This road will then further link through to the Canal Basin.

The middle school is applying to move to the remaining part of the City College site. The old school will then be redeveloped and the swimming baths sold off to developers. Ultraseal and the carparks under the ringroad between Junc 2 and 3 will most likely also be redevEloped - however the ring road is staying elevated here. Part of Whitefriars carpark (the part not under the ringroad) which is next to Whitefriars pub and the big red uni building is also being sold off for development. This will fund a new multistorey behind the courts and police station which is currently a surface carpark.

The old hospital site will be redeveloped with a grid of STREETS! funded through developers who are interested in developing that area.

The areas between AXA and Junction 2 is planned for a major office development, some of which will front Junction 1. This includes the doomed sorting office and surface carpark and warehouses. There will most likely be an additional MSCP close to the ring road side of this area.

The council want any redevelopment of West Orchards to include the relocation of the existing car park which currently lies above the centre - as this carpark is renowned for causing queues and delays to other traffic on Corporation Street and even as far as the Radford Road. They will be looking to have the MSCP rebuilt on the other side of Corporation Street where it can be served off of Upper Well Street.

I hope this answers all of your questions.

P.S. No new pool is planned; however Swanswell Park will be expanded towards the City Centre.

I bet none of this will ever happen, how many office developments can the city accommodate, if it happens then great but i very much doubt it.

Plus i thought the car park by the courts had been earmarked for a massive mixed use development byGovernetz to attract relocations, it was supposed to have offices, restaurants, apartments, and a multi storey, oh and a hotel.

Personally i think friarsgate will get scaled back, i just dont see the uptake by occupiers that they are hoping for, all these so called new develpments bar ikea have been mooted for years, yet none have started. Im seriously concerned.

Great. A lot of people coming in to go out on the piss. It's already full of drunken louts.

it may make it viable for pissheads and chain bars, but I'll still be travelling elsewhere to see live music! And I tend to avoid places filled with alcohol fuelled retards.

Then avoid Earlsdon High Street at the Weekends!!!!!! But wait,forgive me, these are educated and professional alcohol fueled retards :wink2: :wink2:

Then avoid Earlsdon High Street at the Weekends!!!!!! But wait,forgive me, these are educated and professional alcohol fueled retards :wink2: :wink2:

One thing I've noticed about many local Coventrians is an insane jealousy of Earlsdon. Then again, having lived in Stoke, Foleshill and the city centre - all of which are absolute shitholes - I can understand it.

I bet none of this will ever happen, how many office developments can the city accommodate, if it happens then great but i very much doubt it.

Plus i thought the car park by the courts had been earmarked for a massive mixed use development byGovernetz to attract relocations, it was supposed to have offices, restaurants, apartments, and a multi storey, oh and a hotel.

Personally i think friarsgate will get scaled back, i just dont see the uptake by occupiers that they are hoping for, all these so called new develpments bar ikea have been mooted for years, yet none have started. Im seriously concerned.

I think this is why I have suddenly become very cynical about Coventry - a lot of big ideas, some of them great and impressive, then... A few bodges and kludges to the ringroad. I drove around that part of the ringroad today, and I can't see the benefit of removing that exit. The land it frees up isn't huge and one side is made up purely of the bus depot, with an odd shaped parcel of land that'd be freed up. I can't see it being that appealing to developers.

Office wise, I wonder who these occupants are going to be - yeah, a few government departments, maybe - but the IT industry? Nope, that's M4 and M11 corridor. Finance? Firmly London and perhaps Manchester and Leeds. Company HQs? Professional services such as accountants, solicitors, surveyors, etc? Nope, Brum has that nailed for the region. There's no market for it here. I just wonder who they are trying to attract!

Great. A lot of people coming in to go out on the piss. It's already full of drunken louts.

it may make it viable for pissheads and chain bars, but I'll still be travelling elsewhere to see live music! And I tend to avoid places filled with alcohol fuelled retards.

i had a friend up from london the other week and she was really impressed with coventry, our time was easly filled with things to do.
coventry can be a great day out im not saying its the best place to go but it not as bad as you make it out to be and it will be even better in a few years time with all these new things going on

as for nightlife, their are plenty on places in cov which are great for a chilled out and relaxed night with out the alcohol fuelled retards, it also safer compared to some of the places i have been to. never once had a bad experience in coventry nor have any of my friends.

i had a friend up from london the other week and she was really impressed with coventry, our time was easly filled with things to do.
coventry can be a great day out im not saying its the best place to go but it not as bad as you make it out to be and it will be even better in a few years time with all these new things going on

as for nightlife, their are plenty on places in cov which are great for a chilled out and relaxed night with out the alcohol fuelled retards, it also safer compared to some of the places i have been to. never once had a bad experience in coventry nor have any of my friends.

You're missing my point. A lot of people in Coventry have no reason to go into the city centre as there's not much to do apart from drink. Yeah, there are a couple of decent bars - I'd say 2 or 3 - but the rest of the place is pretty dismal, and most towns have a couple of places that are OK.

Yeah, Cov's ok for a day out if you've not seen it before - go up the spire, go to the museum, but there's not a lot of reason to come back.

My friends from London and Manchester think Coventry's awful. Yeah, a few OK bars and a couple of decent restaurants, but they think it's the pits of a city. Whenever they visit, we tend to go to Brum or somewhere in Warwickshire. They just don't really want to go out in Coventry.

These new developments: yes, they look impressive, especially Friargate, Belgrade Plaza and the new Butts Centre. They may make a difference - it about time the Belgrade theatre actually had something around it. I remember seeing a band there as part of the Jazz festival, and at the interval, and at the end, people were wandering around, working out where to go for a meal or a drink... LOL. I'm sure they'll improve things, but Cov needs a lot more than more chain bars and restaurants to make it appeal to a wide cross section of society.

The point is to make Coventry into a place where people can work and will WANT to live. The 2nd part of that is going to be very difficult. Can you honestly say that people are clamouring to move here?

You're missing my point. A lot of people in Coventry have no reason to go into the city centre as there's not much to do apart from drink. Yeah, there are a couple of decent bars - I'd say 2 or 3 - but the rest of the place is pretty dismal, and most towns have a couple of places that are OK.

Yeah, Cov's ok for a day out if you've not seen it before - go up the spire, go to the museum, but there's not a lot of reason to come back.

My friends from London and Manchester think Coventry's awful. Yeah, a few OK bars and a couple of decent restaurants, but they think it's the pits of a city. Whenever they visit, we tend to go to Brum or somewhere in Warwickshire. They just don't really want to go out in Coventry.

These new developments: yes, they look impressive, especially Friargate, Belgrade Plaza and the new Butts Centre. They may make a difference - it about time the Belgrade theatre actually had something around it. I remember seeing a band there as part of the Jazz festival, and at the interval, and at the end, people were wandering around, working out where to go for a meal or a drink... LOL. I'm sure they'll improve things, but Cov needs a lot more than more chain bars and restaurants to make it appeal to a wide cross section of society.

The point is to make Coventry into a place where people can work and will WANT to live. The 2nd part of that is going to be very difficult. Can you honestly say that people are clamouring to move here?

i just think coventry has a lot more going for it than people make out, making people want to live some where is always hard, most of its all about image, and i think coventry suffers from a negative image which frankly doesn't exist.
i think at the min people are not clamouring to move in, but population estimates of about 400, 000 suggest times are changing and good things are on the way

One thing I've noticed about many local Coventrians is an insane jealousy of Earlsdon. Then again, having lived in Stoke, Foleshill and the city centre - all of which are absolute shitholes - I can understand it.

For someone who purports to be educted at uni and holds such a rabid hatred towards this City ,i fail to understand why you have lived here for 2 spells covering reasonable length of time.Surely choice would dictate that a move elsewhere years ago would have saved you from all this anti Coventry vitriol emanting from you about this city??
I hear you are moving after your baby is born.How can you inflict such a stigma upon it as Place of Birth Coventry on it,s Birth Certificate!!!
To carry that around for the rest of it,s life is really unfair...
To catergorise whole sections of the city as shitholes and shit places full of drunks and chavs is a grand sweeping gesture .The whole of this country suffers this type of person......
I am sure you will find the peace of mind that you so crave when you move away from this godforsaken place ,but it leaves me with a wry smile to think that living here each day is causing you so much anguish and pain.

i just think coventry has a lot more going for it than people make out, making people want to live some where is always hard, most of its all about image, and i think coventry suffers from a negative image which frankly doesn't exist.
i think at the min people are not clamouring to move in, but population estimates of about 400, 000 suggest times are changing and good things are on the way

I totally agree,there has been and still is a negative image about the city .
More positive comments and attitudes will improve this place.Too many posters damn the place too readily.Sure it,s not perfect ,but where is??
I sincerly hope that the developments like Friarsgate,Belgrade Plaza and others change the Cities fortune.:) :)

For someone who purports to be educted at uni and holds such a rabid hatred towards this City ,i fail to understand why you have lived here for 2 spells covering reasonable length of time.Surely choice would dictate that a move elsewhere years ago would have saved you from all this anti Coventry vitriol emanting from you about this city??
I hear you are moving after your baby is born.How can you inflict such a stigma upon it as Place of Birth Coventry on it,s Birth Certificate!!!
To carry that around for the rest of it,s life is really unfair...
To catergorise whole sections of the city as shitholes and shit places full of drunks and chavs is a grand sweeping gesture .The whole of this country suffers this type of person......
I am sure you will find the peace of mind that you so crave when you move away from this godforsaken place ,but it leaves me with a wry smile to think that living here each day is causing you so much anguish and pain.

Unfortunately, Coventry is one place where generalisations seem to be true for vast swatches of the place. I've experienced enough of this city to know that. Luckily, I know it's not true for all of the city.

By the way, wipe the smile off your face, as I have no anguish and pain since we moved to a decent part. In fact, I rather like where I live at the moment. However, the previous four years did consist of a certain amount of anguish inflicted by the chavs and scum that inhabit this city. Thankfully, that is a dim and distant memory.

Now go away and stop bothering me.

I totally agree,there has been and still is a negative image about the city .
More positive comments and attitudes will improve this place.Too many posters damn the place too readily.Sure it,s not perfect ,but where is??
I sincerly hope that the developments like Friarsgate,Belgrade Plaza and others change the Cities fortune.:) :)


If you can get this to work, take a look at page 3 - the Butts redevelopment. The scale of this is quite incredible, and it's as large the Belgrade Plaza development.

http://webstreamer.coventry.gov.uk/Coventry_Planning/viewReference.asp?ref=x-ottp://webstreamer.coventry.gov.uk/groups_cdd/Planning/scan/2007/SCAN0700/R-2007-0713/Design%20and%20Access%20Statement1.pdf

This is the application:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=669895
The Butts area seems to be a real up and coming area at the moment, what with this, the Butts Apartments & the new Apartments on York Street. It's also quite close to Friargate as well.

Perhaps a good area to buy an investment property in?

If you can get this to work, take a look at page 3 - the Butts redevelopment. The scale of this is quite incredible, and it's as large the Belgrade Plaza development.

http://webstreamer.coventry.gov.uk/Coventry_Planning/viewReference.asp?ref=x-ottp://webstreamer.coventry.gov.uk/groups_cdd/Planning/scan/2007/SCAN0700/R-2007-0713/Design%20and%20Access%20Statement1.pdf

This is the application:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=669895
The Butts area seems to be a real up and coming area at the moment, what with this, the Butts Apartments & the new Apartments on York Street. It's also quite close to Friargate as well.

Perhaps a good area to buy an investment property in?

Thanks for the links..I agree with your comments on the Butts development when it goes up it will bring a new vibrancy to this part of the city along with the future expansion /development of the Rugby stadium.
A cautionary note regarding the existing theatre,the developers are threatening not to fully fund it as the council have asked for a larger allocation of 'Social Housing' on the proposed development.As it currently stands it,s a wonderful Art deco 1930,s theatre (A hidden gem)which i have had the pleasure of watching my daughter perform with her dance school on stage.
Also many amateur groups perform plays/pantomine on it,s stage.
Hopefully it will be kept open and used on a more regular basis.

Final comment ..I will not go away ,i am here to stay and haunt you..I enjoy the challenge!!!!:banana2:

Thanks for the links..I agree with your comments on the Butts development when it goes up it will bring a new vibrancy to this part of the city along with the future expansion /development of the Rugby stadium.
A cautionary note regarding the existing theatre,the developers are threatening not to fully fund it as the council have asked for a larger allocation of 'Social Housing' on the proposed development.As it currently stands it,s a wonderful Art deco 1930,s theatre (A hidden gem)which i have had the pleasure of watching my daughter perform with her dance school on stage.
Also many amateur groups perform plays/pantomine on it,s stage.
Hopefully it will be kept open and used on a more regular basis.

Final comment ..I will not go away ,i am here to stay and haunt you..I enjoy the challenge!!!!:banana2:

I hope the theatre stays - I actually think a lot of the other developments in Coventry lack a real "attraction", and this theatre could be one. It's got a real reason for people to go there, especially if it's utilised all year round. I know it's been used in the past for music as well as stage. I've seen shows there myself when I was a student, and I remember it being a decent place.

I think the council will have to decide between social housing and theatre. The developers are planning to spend a lot of money keeping it going, and will not want to increase social housing content AND fund the theatre.

the butts development looks great,

i am really looking forward to the opening of the new belgrade theater though looks bigger than i first expected, they just need to get a move on with the rest of the project.

i was in town the other day and i saw survey's and things going on up trinity street and around the area planned for the millenium view appartments so hopfully they will be starting that soon to, finally sings of movement.

Yeh things are happening in the city. Give it time! I dont like posting when you are all ranting about the place. Everywhere moves slowly; Arena Central Tower took over a decade!!!

the butts development looks great,

i am really looking forward to the opening of the new belgrade theater though looks bigger than i first expected, they just need to get a move on with the rest of the project.

i was in town the other day and i saw survey's and things going on up trinity street and around the area planned for the millenium view appartments so hopfully they will be starting that soon to, finally sings of movement.

We used to go to the theatre quite a lot before it closed down - quite miss it, they had some good shows on a Belgrade, although not really enough of them in a year. It was just so bloomin' uncomfortable. I like the building as well, the glazed front over the square looks really good.

Last time I saw anything there was a jazz trio called E.S.T - we'd just eaten at the Chinese buffet, it was the middle of summer, and we sat there and sweated soya sauce, I swear. I think they should do more music there, as well as stage shows - although I suspect it's not big enough for orchestras. I saw a big band modern jazz band there once, and they looked very cramped on stage.

Yeh things are happening in the city. Give it time! I dont like posting when you are all ranting about the place. Everywhere moves slowly; Arena Central Tower took over a decade!!!

Point taken...
I'll calm down shortly, when the baby arrives!

We used to go to the theatre quite a lot before it closed down - quite miss it, they had some good shows on a Belgrade, although not really enough of them in a year. It was just so bloomin' uncomfortable. I like the building as well, the glazed front over the square looks really good.

Last time I saw anything there was a jazz trio called E.S.T - we'd just eaten at the Chinese buffet, it was the middle of summer, and we sat there and sweated soya sauce, I swear. I think they should do more music there, as well as stage shows - although I suspect it's not big enough for orchestras. I saw a big band modern jazz band there once, and they looked very cramped on stage.

it is true, it was a very cramped theater but hopfully it will be sorted affter the redevelopment and with the extra auditorium there should be alot more going on their and a lot more variety. i bet when the area is finished it will be really busy, for both day and night entertainment.

but wat the city really needs is a proper musice venue,
some thing i think we will never get with the NEC being so close.
but heres hoping .

I found this article in which Sir Terrry Farrell muses over Coventry and Dubai...


Everything about Mipim is hyper-real but this year felt hyper-hyper real. Architect Sir Terry Farrell summed up this impression at a dinner to launch a new masterplan his firm are drawing up for the Friargate area in central Coventry. It was care of a discussion he'd just had with QS Paul Morrell, the former senior partner at Davis Langdon and a wise old reader of the market (he wrote just such a piece on whether the market was due a correction ten days ago in this magazine). "Paul said to me it's gone utterly bonkers," recounted Farrell. "You've got people (in Russia and Dubai) with too much land deciding to build islands off the shore. Something has surely gone wrong." Farrell went on to compare this with the UK, claiming that the regeneration of British cities such as Coventry as much more rooted in reality. "It's very sane the urban renaissance over here," he said.


It was on

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=725&storycode=3083430&c=2&encCode=00000000012be733

it is true, it was a very cramped theater but hopfully it will be sorted affter the redevelopment and with the extra auditorium there should be alot more going on their and a lot more variety. i bet when the area is finished it will be really busy, for both day and night entertainment.

but wat the city really needs is a proper musice venue,
some thing i think we will never get with the NEC being so close.
but heres hoping .

I remember seeing a show at the Belgrade once and the bloke next to me was huge - and his chair was collapsing, he was sweating profusely and looked really uncomfortable. Incredible - that theatre still had the same chairs that were put in when it was first built. We really should keep on top of things in the UK.

The NEC is for big, big groups - your arena bands, and ther're only a handful of them around. Personally, I don't waste 45quid to see dots in a shed, so I tend not to go to these sorts of gigs if I can help. They generally sound awful as well.

I much prefer places like Wolverhampton Civic Hall/Symphony Hall [Although rock bands have issues with this wonderful venue]. A couple of thousand people, perhaps.

Coventry could easily support a venue like that - the nearest one that does a wide range of music is Wolverhampton, really.

Warwick Arts centre is very good indeed - I go there a lot - but it tends to cater to the more specialist market, which is why I like it - although I tend to go there 10 minutes before the show and come straight back home afterwards. You can't make a day of it. Nice venue, and always sounds very good. We need something like this in the centre.

A music venue that can cater for small bands, as well as people who can get a decent crowd in would be perfect. The Belgrade theatre is very successful at drawing people in from a wide radius. So why can't a music venue work?

A lot more bands used to play the Tic Toc - you'd get modern bands, and a lot of old 70s stuff - which still draws good audiences. When I was a student they had people like Marillion, Fish, Uriah Heep, River City People, etc, etc.

The main hall of the Poly used to have Hawkwind, Wonder Stuff, Transvision Vamp, Kirsty MacColl, etc, etc...

Coventry really does lack a "city hall" type of venue. I believe in the past, there were plans to create a Symphony Hall - a local chap apparently left some money to build one - but it never happened.

I go to Leamington for music, Stratford, Wolves, Bilston, Cheltenham. This year so far I'm planning gigs in Wolves, Stratford, Tewksebury... etc.

Coventry's always been a musical city - during the 1960s there was a thriving "Cov-beat" scene, and a few acts from that did well - including Nektar and Indian Summer. Then there was 2-Tone, of course, which came straight out Coventry.

Any News as to when the Planning enquiry re Coventry Airports new terminal/expansion is due to be made public??

I've seen the TA so i assume it'd be shortly...

I've seen the TA so i assume it'd be shortly...

What's the "TA"?

TA = Traffic / Transport Assesment

TA = Traffic / Transport Assesment

Oh, of course... Isn't this on WDC's website? There's been heaps of documents there for some time now.

I remember seeing a show at the Belgrade once and the bloke next to me was huge - and his chair was collapsing, he was sweating profusely and looked really uncomfortable. Incredible - that theatre still had the same chairs that were put in when it was first built. We really should keep on top of things in the UK.

The NEC is for big, big groups - your arena bands, and ther're only a handful of them around. Personally, I don't waste 45quid to see dots in a shed, so I tend not to go to these sorts of gigs if I can help. They generally sound awful as well.

I much prefer places like Wolverhampton Civic Hall/Symphony Hall [Although rock bands have issues with this wonderful venue]. A couple of thousand people, perhaps.

Coventry could easily support a venue like that - the nearest one that does a wide range of music is Wolverhampton, really.

Warwick Arts centre is very good indeed - I go there a lot - but it tends to cater to the more specialist market, which is why I like it - although I tend to go there 10 minutes before the show and come straight back home afterwards. You can't make a day of it. Nice venue, and always sounds very good. We need something like this in the centre.

A music venue that can cater for small bands, as well as people who can get a decent crowd in would be perfect. The Belgrade theatre is very successful at drawing people in from a wide radius. So why can't a music venue work?

A lot more bands used to play the Tic Toc - you'd get modern bands, and a lot of old 70s stuff - which still draws good audiences. When I was a student they had people like Marillion, Fish, Uriah Heep, River City People, etc, etc.

The main hall of the Poly used to have Hawkwind, Wonder Stuff, Transvision Vamp, Kirsty MacColl, etc, etc...

Coventry really does lack a "city hall" type of venue. I believe in the past, there were plans to create a Symphony Hall - a local chap apparently left some money to build one - but it never happened.

I go to Leamington for music, Stratford, Wolves, Bilston, Cheltenham. This year so far I'm planning gigs in Wolves, Stratford, Tewksebury... etc.

Coventry's always been a musical city - during the 1960s there was a thriving "Cov-beat" scene, and a few acts from that did well - including Nektar and Indian Summer. Then there was 2-Tone, of course, which came straight out Coventry.

Wow I nearly feinted when I saw this! Martin, you were actually being positive about a cultural aspect of coventry! And without slagging off locals! Im impressed!

I think your right, there is a market for it and a decent catchment area. I was looking on that live search thing, its awsome! Looking at new union street, I think the corner opposite the police station, the other side of the road to the tatty car park, would be a perfect place to build a landmark civic centre. Would be able to do something spectacular architecurally. The land behind Inspire up to the old hospital could be a park / open space area and could put some decent buildings around the edge and greyfriars lane. Also open up the manor house on the opposite side of the road. All those buildings around there are dismal, and it would spread the centre out a bit. I can dream...

Wow I nearly feinted when I saw this! Martin, you were actually being positive about a cultural aspect of coventry! And without slagging off locals! Im impressed!

I think your right, there is a market for it and a decent catchment area. I was looking on that live search thing, its awsome! Looking at new union street, I think the corner opposite the police station, the other side of the road to the tatty car park, would be a perfect place to build a landmark civic centre. Would be able to do something spectacular architecurally. The land behind Inspire up to the old hospital could be a park / open space area and could put some decent buildings around the edge and greyfriars lane. Also open up the manor house on the opposite side of the road. All those buildings around there are dismal, and it would spread the centre out a bit. I can dream...

Yeh i went past on New Union Street a few minutes ago and that corner with the shops is a perfect site for redevelopment; and with the BT exchange being vacanted in the near future then that whole area would be perfect for 2 blocks of new buildings, with a new pedestrian link between that footpath behind the exchange and upto that New Union House ugly ugly brown office building and across to New Union Street with maybe an underground carpark at the back of the area so you have a mini street with cars with the footpath running across at the end of it - i quite like the extension part of the BT exchange it has high windows and a kinda blocky modern design.

Wow I nearly feinted when I saw this! Martin, you were actually being positive about a cultural aspect of coventry! And without slagging off locals! Im impressed!

I think your right, there is a market for it and a decent catchment area. I was looking on that live search thing, its awsome! Looking at new union street, I think the corner opposite the police station, the other side of the road to the tatty car park, would be a perfect place to build a landmark civic centre. Would be able to do something spectacular architecurally. The land behind Inspire up to the old hospital could be a park / open space area and could put some decent buildings around the edge and greyfriars lane. Also open up the manor house on the opposite side of the road. All those buildings around there are dismal, and it would spread the centre out a bit. I can dream...

This was 15-20 years ago though.

I think the areas around the ringroad are too dominated by roads that are more suburban in character, and this prevents Coventry from having an urban feel.

This is what I like about the Butts Development - it attempts to bring some urban character to the Butts by building tall-ish buildings in the area and reducing the dominance of the road.

I've got the pdf of the planning statement now for the Butts Centre - I e-mailled someone in CCC if I could have a copy. It came this morning.

It's an incredible development - not as snazzy or arty as Friargate, but a good addition to the area. Some points:

* Theatre to be retained
* Internal features of college to be retained (Marble staircases, etc)
* Ground floor of college to be redevelped as bars/restaurants
* MS Car park "wrapped" in an apartment block
* 10 Storey office block with ground floor consisting of bars/retail/restaurant units.
* Public courtyward in the middle of the development (With active frontages)
* Apartment buildings going from 5 to eleven stories.
* Retaining Trees along albany road/Butts

It looks fantastic, as well - the office block has been designed so it fits the style of the college, but is "wrapped" by the glass office building.

It also appears that a similar height building (11) is planned for the area behind the Rugby Stand, but this isn't part of the Butts Development.

This was 15-20 years ago though.

I think the areas around the ringroad are too dominated by roads that are more suburban in character, and this prevents Coventry from having an urban feel.

This is what I like about the Butts Development - it attempts to bring some urban character to the Butts by building tall-ish buildings in the area and reducing the dominance of the road.

I've got the pdf of the planning statement now for the Butts Centre - I e-mailled someone in CCC if I could have a copy. It came this morning.

It's an incredible development - not as snazzy or arty as Friargate, but a good addition to the area. Some points:

* Theatre to be retained
* Internal features of college to be retained (Marble staircases, etc)
* Ground floor of college to be redevelped as bars/restaurants
* MS Car park "wrapped" in an apartment block
* 10 Storey office block with ground floor consisting of bars/retail/restaurant units.
* Public courtyward in the middle of the development (With active frontages)
* Apartment buildings going from 5 to eleven stories.
* Retaining Trees along albany road/Butts

It looks fantastic, as well - the office block has been designed so it fits the style of the college, but is "wrapped" by the glass office building.

It also appears that a similar height building (11) is planned for the area behind the Rugby Stand, but this isn't part of the Butts Development.

wow thats great news! and i agree this will give coventry a more city-like feel to it, and a plus is that its not in the city centre. I wonder who is behind this building planned to go behind the rugby stand, and i hope that this proposed building doesnt interfier with the stadium's proposed expansion...

I suggest you support the Butts Centre application, and the other applications on the site that look good. All they seem to get are the same people making objections all the time... It's about time we showed 'em that some people in the city do want these huge developments!

I suggest you support the Butts Centre application, and the other applications on the site that look good. All they seem to get are the same people making objections all the time... It's about time we showed 'em that some people in the city do want these huge developments!

Good idea, im sure we can make some sort of difference:)
we should form some sort of society supporting these types of developments. This will ,at the same time, weaken the influence of those who object to these types of developments.

Good idea, im sure we can make some sort of difference:)
we should form some sort of society supporting these types of developments. This will ,at the same time, weaken the influence of those who object to these types of developments.

Easy to do as well - just go to the website and do it all from there.

I'm not sure if we'll make a difference - as I suspect with these big developments the details and any potential major causes for objection are already sorted in pre-planning design forums...

Yeh the more people who can give positive comments the better cos the objectors shout is always louder, and is always listened to more. Its how the system works. If say 150 people (and if many of them are local to the scheme i.e. adjacent streets) support it and say 100 dont then the supporters have the upper hand!

We think we've had an impact in Brum! If you post the reference, some details/images and the email address I am sure we would be only too happy to help too! :)

Easy to do as well - just go to the website and do it all from there.

I'm not sure if we'll make a difference - as I suspect with these big developments the details and any potential major causes for objection are already sorted in pre-planning design forums...

MartinN , can you please post the link to the website please on this forum so that we can all send in our comments.

i read something in the paper the other day which was interesting,
the articale was going on about the new starbucks opening and there was hints and suggestions in it that more large chain and international stores where set to follow it, however they where reluctant to name names. hope this is the start of something good, or maybe im reading to much into it.

Could someone please post some of the pictures of the Butts development here? My work PC dosen't have Java and my home Mac just won't load the council planning renders.

planning application is going in today for county hall to be converted into apartments and bar. I think we should all support this development if the plans look good as the coventry society will obviously but a spanner in this application if they do not like it.

planning application is going in today for county hall to be converted into apartments and bar. I think we should all support this development if the plans look good as the coventry society will obviously but a spanner in this application if they do not like it.

Lets hope this project gets off the ground after being mooted for years!!!
Only in Coventry can buildings of this status be left unused for years.
What about the building opposite( Old Newtz pub)
Anybody have any info on this empty building?

check this link out, i know its nothing to do with developments but its sad that in most of the large cities in this country is ruled by yobs!:bash:
http://www.coventrybikers.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1164&highlight=&sid=d017bf055f2a0cb2314d7cfa3808d666

/\/\ yes, but that, in my opinion, is down to the lazy over-paid bastards that i call POLICE! we need a police system like americas, police should be allowed to be armed with guns, they should have the power to take anyone down that is a threat and not have to ask for the authority to do it! England is a Shithole-and THAT is not to do with the police-it is all down to THE FUCKING SHITTY GOVERNMENT!!
and i am sick and tired of it!....

MartinN , can you please post the link to the website please on this forum so that we can all send in our comments.

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=669895

You can register support from the web.

I have the planning and design statement in pdf form, although I'm not sure I should really be e-mailling it around.

The planning website doesn't really work very well.

/\/\ yes, but that, in my opinion, is down to the lazy over-paid bastards that i call POLICE! we need a police system like americas, police should be allowed to be armed with guns, they should have the power to take anyone down that is a threat and not have to ask for the authority to do it! England is a Shithole-and THAT is not to do with the police-it is all down to THE FUCKING SHITTY GOVERNMENT!!
and i am sick and tired of it!....

Yes we should imitate the American way of law enforcement. Then we too could experience the incredibly low crime rates they enjoy over the pond....:lol:

The fascist police state you desire, despite Labour's continued erosion of our civil liberties (ID card etc), is still a long way off.

I'd just like to congratulate University of Warwick on winning University Challenge! Well done! :applause:

I'd just like to congratulate University of Warwick on winning University Challenge! Well done! :applause:

Yup, i watched as well - being a Warwick graduate!

I was surprised that Cov uni didn't make it into the final!

Shame there isn't a special prize, "Who has the most land in a city centre and has demolished the most pre 1900's buildings" We'd win that

it was good to see warwick uni winning it, my old uni won it last year.

So what does everyone think of the precinct then? As it seems it might be a joint venture with the new owners of West Orchards, then it might actually happen and hopefully not get scaled down to a new fountain or something. Good to know that the council aren't completely blind.

oops meant to post that in the other thread

rebuild! dont revamp!

its only worth doing if they create a linkage to all the new developments, frontage to the main street and better landscaping in the area.

Yep indeed. I quite like the Bishop Street area near the sorting office, theres a few obvious urban blocks that could be redeveloped really nicely. We could do with some more convenience stores in the city centre too; they create footfall and can drive regeneration.

Yep indeed. I quite like the Bishop Street area near the sorting office, theres a few obvious urban blocks that could be redeveloped really nicely. We could do with some more convenience stores in the city centre too; they create footfall and can drive regeneration.

Definitely with regards to the Bishop Street area - at the moment it's a real mess. I wish they'd get rid of all those ugly shacks.

You'll only get convenience stores surely when there're people living there to use them. Footfall in Coventry is very poor outside the precinct - a reason why businesses struggle in these areas (The big oxfam thing is closing for this reason).

Oxfam closed a while ago. The east side of bishop street was meant to be "Pheonix 2" area and buisness based in the plans i think. Theres a lot they can do with that street with the new development at the bottom. However it hinges on swanswell. They are right next to each other but because of the ring road u cant get from one to the other. If the sorting office goes, hopefully people will get pulled up the street with whatever is replaced there. It's a horrible area at the moment. Ko Podo (big warehouse club thing) is closed and empty, so they could literally knock down the whole area and start again! Theres nothing left apart from empty post war buildings there now.

Which makes it very attractive to developers as as long as there isn't much asbetos post-war buildings are sooo easy to clear away and start from a blank canvas. Thats the benefit Coventry has - as long as it doesn't all look the same!

Thats the benefit Coventry has - as long as it doesn't all look the same!

Very true!

That part of Cov we're talking about is ripe for demolition, but I believe there are issues over land ownership and also the people in that horrible legion club refused to sell to developers. I say CP and demolish the fucking thing anyway. It's an eyesore.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3126/toweras4.png

Does anyone know what the occupancy level is for Hillman House?

It's a residential/housing association block, and I think it's always full.

It's a residential/housing association block, and I think it's always full.

bugger! I've never liked it. I would really like to see some of those buildings along corporation street torn down.

found a promotional video of coventry on the council website, dont know if anyones seen it, but it does make coventry feel and look very cosmopolitan.

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navig....svl=Navi_main

Its rite at the bottom.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3126/toweras4.png

Does anyone know what the occupancy level is for Hillman House?

You can see in this photo just how much land there is around West Orchard to expand into. It could easily expand north and east to have frontage onto Corporation St from Co-Op round to the pub at the bottom of the Burges.

You can see in this photo just how much land there is around West Orchard to expand into. It could easily expand north and east to have frontage onto Corporation St from Co-Op round to the pub at the bottom of the Burges.

That would be good! I think somebody has already mentioned this. It could open up the area and link Belgrade Square/Corporation St with the Upper/Lower precinct.

well actually if this was to happen it would basically link up the whole of corporation street, meaning that the city would finally have a stree that goes somewhere, linking ikea and the station area with the shopping and belgrade area and then the transport museum and bars.

That would be good! I think somebody has already mentioned this. It could open up the area and link Belgrade Square/Corporation St with the Upper/Lower precinct.

I suspect the opposite - we are going to see Coventry become more built up. A few years back, they did some research and asked people what they thought about the city, and a lot of people felt it didn't feel much like a city and had too many vast open spaces with nothing in them.

Hence why the surface level car parks are being built on, and we are seeing things like Ikea, Belgrade Plaza, etc.

Will the small building in the centre of this pic be demolished?

http://ikeacoventry.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/pano2179a1000.jpg

"Skydome leisure world" :ohno:

I would have thought so. It may be being used as a wc and site office

Yeh its gonna come down at the end of the scheme when they do all the pavements and street re-designs.

I just love how huge it is!! Really looking forward to all the cladding going up -the whole area will be a bit Blue with Skydome there too!

Has anything started at Victoria Buildings? I noticed earlier that all the vacant buildings on Far Gosford Street are up for public auction in May; anyone gonna go along?

Yeh its gonna come down at the end of the scheme when they do all the pavements and street re-designs.

I just love how huge it is!! Really looking forward to all the cladding going up -the whole area will be a bit Blue with Skydome there too!

Has anything started at Victoria Buildings? I noticed earlier that all the vacant buildings on Far Gosford Street are up for public auction in May; anyone gonna go along?

It is big - surprises me.

Nope, not going to the auction - Far Gosford Street is pretty grim, although it could be nice.

Will the small building in the centre of this pic be demolished?

http://ikeacoventry.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/pano2179a1000.jpg

"Skydome leisure world" :ohno:


The picture won't load for me. What's it of?

Now I post the above it finally loads.

It is big - surprises me.

Nope, not going to the auction - Far Gosford Street is pretty grim, although it could be nice.

They seem to be making a real effort with Far Gosford St. It's now a one way road with new paving, kerbing, street parking and a filling in of some of the empty spaces, as well as the removal of the old toilet block at the top. Most of the shop units are now in use and the medieval buildings are being restored.

My big fear is that the new expensive street surface will be covered in pavement pizza's every weekend.

They seem to be making a real effort with Far Gosford St. It's now a one way road with new paving, kerbing, street parking and a filling in of some of the empty spaces, as well as the removal of the old toilet block at the top. Most of the shop units are now in use and the medieval buildings are being restored.

My big fear is that the new expensive street surface will be covered in pavement pizza's every weekend.

The problem with Far Gosford Street is the dreadful takeaways, and the horrible supermarket that's constantly surrounded by gangs of kids. And there are a lot of ther dubious types hanging around, including prostitutes at the very bottom.

The area is just generally horrible, and within 2 years the street will look a mess again - they did it up about 14 years ago, and nothing improved. In fact it got worse. When we used to live in Stoke, I refused to walk down Far Gosford Street - there were too many muggings and assaults. A friend of mine who still lives in Stoke says it's even worse now.

Found some pictures of the proposal for a pedestrianised Burges. It looks like most of the building in that area will stay...

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/planning/ironmonger-square-proposal/

Found some pictures of the proposal for a pedestrianised Burges. It looks like most of the building in that area will stay...

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/planning/ironmonger-square-proposal/

I think the hope is that the square will encourage the buildings to either become occupied or get redeveloped.

I don't see this "square" as being much cop, to be honest. It's just not a nice place down there.

I just got back from a trip to New York. While we were there we had the good fortune to go to Bryant Park - a little but fantastic little park right in the middle of Midtown Manhattan. If the thick and quite stupid leaders of our fine City had any foresight they would get rid of the awful shopping centre Cathedral Lanes, with that TENT and make Broadgate a fine place again.
Check out www.bryantpark.org and look at the Pictures.
Also type Bryant Park into Google images and look at the picutes........If only!!!!

Let me know what you think. TC

Broadgate will never be like this unfortunatly, the company that owns CL are not going to knock it down, even though it is an eye sore and has no decent shops inside, it still brings in significant revenue for them and is relativly new. IMHO i think this is one building and square we will have to put up with for a very long time.

Broadgate will never be like this unfortunatly, the company that owns CL are not going to knock it down, even though it is an eye sore and has no decent shops inside, it still brings in significant revenue for them and is relativly new. IMHO i think this is one building and square we will have to put up with for a very long time.

To be honest, I don't think Coventry needs another open space with nothing in it. Before they build Cathedral Lanes, Broadgate had become a complete dump and was always filled with drunks and tramps. The square was only temporary - it was always intended to be built on.

I'd rather they turned it into a proper square!

Good news :)

From Property Week

Ericsson finally settles on Ansty site

Mobile phone giant Ericsson has ended a two year hunt for a new Midlands technology facility by selecting a site in Ansty near Coventry.

By Jonathan Brasse

The company had shortlisted the Ansty site alongside a site in Loughborough nearly a year ago but announced its decision this morning. It appointed Cushman & Wakefield to undertake the search.

The expansion will see Ericsson move 650 staff from its facilities in Coventry and Beeston to the 100 acre site to the northeast of city. The site is able to accommodate more than 1m sq ft of development but Ericsson will take a pre-let on two buildings, unlikely to be larger than 200,000 sq ft.

Keith Westcott, vice-president at Ericsson UK said: ‘This facility will meet the business needs of Ericsson now and in the future. The investment will secure and create more employment in the Midlands region.’

Westcott said the terms of the lease are still under negotiation but are likely to be decided by the end of the year. Work is expected to start on site at the beginning of next year.

Good news :)

From Property Week

Indeed.

I used to work in a software team at Marconi, and that team is now under Ericsson, so it looks they'll be staying local!

Found some pictures of the proposal for a pedestrianised Burges. It looks like most of the building in that area will stay...

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/planning/ironmonger-square-proposal/

The Burges, dont get me started!!!

Sounded like the City Centre masterplan thingy should be out soonish, hopefully Modus and Morley have come up with some kewl ideas for the place, with a new street layout like whats been achieved where the Tricorn was in Portsmouth - you guys should really check this website out its cool, makes me amazed and in awe of 60s architecture:

http://www.garfnet.org.uk/pictures/index.htm?20030629.htm

Check this picture out [Marty thought the Precinct was bad!]:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/309/dscf1339oj1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4856/dscf1215il9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7219/dscf1372mh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now be greatful for The Precinct!!!

We are also No. 50 in the shopping centre leagues, not as bad as i had feared.

That looks a bit grim, although looking at the other pictures, there appears to be a huge variety of shapes and interesting features on that centre. It's a shame it just looks so grim.

I wonder what it was like when it was brand new and freshly opened?

I have to confess I've always liked what I saw of the Tricorn in various pictures, though I'm not sure I would say that if it was in Coventry. Unfortunately the concrete favoured by brutalist architecture doesn't age well and if unmaintained will soon look pretty grim.

50th in the shopping league is shit when you consider that Cov is the 11th or so largest city in Britain.

50th in the shopping league is shit when you consider that Cov is the 11th or so largest city in Britain.

True it aint good in that terms, but considering all everyone does is diss the place that aint too bad really!

True it aint good in that terms, but considering all everyone does is diss the place that aint too bad really!

It's the pits in any terms.:)

I remember 7 or 8 years ago, it was ranked in the twenties or thirties, and that was before they redid the lower precinct - it was bloody ghastly, you prob. don't remember it. Virtually all empty. Even that redevelopment failed to halt the slide, and Cov slipped down the table until it wasn't in the top 50.

If you like mobile phone shops, Cov comes out top.

It's the pits in any terms.:)

I remember 7 or 8 years ago, it was ranked in the twenties or thirties, and that was before they redid the lower precinct - it was bloody ghastly, you prob. don't remember it. Virtually all empty. Even that redevelopment failed to halt the slide, and Cov slipped down the table until it wasn't in the top 50.

If you like mobile phone shops, Cov comes out top.

Birmingham has 4 Phones 4 U within about 300 metres - now thats mobile heaven!

Well if it was in the Top 50 before you have to consider the number of redvelopments going on EVERYWHERE in the country, we had Bullring, Rope Walk, London has White City coming online next year, and Bluewater has been done in the naughty's, Manchester has shot up, Warrington is about to shoot up, its all going nuts on the retail side so its no surprise that not having a major redevlopment shopping centre type scheme we have slipped.

Other towns / cities with massive new schemes:
Bristol
Basingstoke
MK total redevelopment
Hemel Hempstead
Wimbledon
Cambridge
High Wycombe
Preston
Liverpool
Sheffield
Leicester
Nottingham
Hull
etc...

The rankings are gonna be all over the shop (get it?)

We just need a 'massive new scheme'!!!!

Birmingham has 4 Phones 4 U within about 300 metres - now thats mobile heaven!

And about 3 department stores all within spitting distance of each other.

Now remind me, where's Cov's department store? Ah, John Lewis don't want to build one...

We've got a nice big Pikeymark using half a nice big building that used to be a decent department store.

And about 3 department stores all within spitting distance of each other.

Now remind me, where's Cov's department store? Ah, John Lewis don't want to build one...

We've got a nice big Pikeymark using half a nice big building that used to be a decent department store.

Lol, we aint gonna get a John Lewis till some high-profile company comes along and says to John Lewis 'this is our proposed scheme for Coventry, we have a 200,000sq ft department store and a 20,000 sq ft food store unit (both of which are likely) and would like you to fill one of them', and then if its a high quality development etc and can show it can abstract trade from Leamington but not Solihull, they may well say yes please we'll have one of those thankyou.

The city cant expect them to just move in, theres nowhere for them to go at the moment and they want purpose built high-quality NEW developments.

Lol, we aint gonna get a John Lewis till some high-profile company comes along and says to John Lewis 'this is our proposed scheme for Coventry, we have a 200,000sq ft department store and a 20,000 sq ft food store unit (both of which are likely) and would like you to fill one of them', and then if its a high quality development etc and can show it can abstract trade from Leamington but not Solihull, they may well say yes please we'll have one of those thankyou.

The city cant expect them to just move in, theres nowhere for them to go at the moment and they want purpose built high-quality NEW developments.

Isn't that what these two companies are doing with their masterplan? Or is it going to be more tweaks to the existing mess...

When they start landing pigs at Coventry airport, I'll believe that John Lewis will move here.

Isn't that what these two companies are doing with their masterplan? Or is it going to be more tweaks to the existing mess...

When they start landing pigs at Coventry airport, I'll believe that John Lewis will move here.

Oh come on! We have all those high-spending Warwickshire lot of steal out of Leamington and send that into decline so theres the potential. The problem is thats theres far tooo much to do and little bits are slowly being done, so theres an endless amount of redevelopment that could take place before the city centre is 'amazing'.

Oh come on! We have all those high-spending Warwickshire lot of steal out of Leamington and send that into decline so theres the potential. The problem is thats theres far tooo much to do and little bits are slowly being done, so theres an endless amount of redevelopment that could take place before the city centre is 'amazing'.

Cov can't even get its own high-spending population into the city centre.

Cov can't even get its own high-spending population into the city centre.

Marty we know you dont have to preach to us! Everything could change, it depends what happens with this new damn Leamington shopping centre department store, if its a Debenhams (which would seem more likely) then we dont have a problem. If it is John Lewis (which i very much doubt it would be as this would affect trade at Solihull) then we've been shafted big style!

Marty we know you dont have to preach to us! Everything could change, it depends what happens with this new damn Leamington shopping centre department store, if its a Debenhams (which would seem more likely) then we dont have a problem. If it is John Lewis (which i very much doubt it would be as this would affect trade at Solihull) then we've been shafted big style!

Hopefully it will be a debenhams - or maybe House of Fraser will move from their existing Leamington store to a new one. If it's a John Lewis, then Cov is fucked for good - Leamington has a wealthy catchment (Including South Coventry & Kenilworth) so I don't see it as inconceivable - especially as they are moving into smaller places like Preston. Another factor might be Ikea? Why would JL want to try to compete with Ikea. Both stores have a lot of crossover.

Although haven't JL already said that they're not interesed in opening a store here?

Hopefully it will be a debenhams - or maybe House of Fraser will move from their existing Leamington store to a new one. If it's a John Lewis, then Cov is fucked for good - Leamington has a wealthy catchment (Including South Coventry & Kenilworth) so I don't see it as inconceivable - especially as they are moving into smaller places like Preston. Another factor might be Ikea? Why would JL want to try to compete with Ikea. Both stores have a lot of crossover.

Although haven't JL already said that they're not interesed in opening a store here?

They have but thats mainly because people keep going to them and saying 'please can you open a store here' then not giving them anything to open in! You cant expect anything for nothing!

Hopefully it will be a debenhams - or maybe House of Fraser will move from their existing Leamington store to a new one. If it's a John Lewis, then Cov is fucked for good - Leamington has a wealthy catchment (Including South Coventry & Kenilworth) so I don't see it as inconceivable - especially as they are moving into smaller places like Preston. Another factor might be Ikea? Why would JL want to try to compete with Ikea. Both stores have a lot of crossover.

Although haven't JL already said that they're not interesed in opening a store here?

Well Ikea and JL are at different ends of the spending spectrum. JL customers want personal service, top end brands and solid wood. Ikea is for people who wish they could afford to shop in JL.

Tbh I wouldn't expect another JL in the west mids - there is one in Solihull (which is fairly close for Cov) and rumours that there will be one in Brum when Martineau Galleries gets underway.

That said, what is their expansion plan?

They have but thats mainly because people keep going to them and saying 'please can you open a store here' then not giving them anything to open in! You cant expect anything for nothing!

The reason they said they weren't interested was because they didn't think there was enough money in the city.

Tbh I wouldn't expect another JL in the west mids - there is one in Solihull (which is fairly close for Cov) and rumours that there will be one in Brum when Martineau Galleries gets underway.

That said, what is their expansion plan?

15 miles away? It's not _that_ close, especially when you consider that there's over 1/2 million (Prob more) people within ten miles of Cov City centre! And some of those areas are amongst the most prosperous in the UK... (Including some parts of Cov itself.)

Well Ikea and JL are at different ends of the spending spectrum. JL customers want personal service, top end brands and solid wood. Ikea is for people who wish they could afford to shop in JL.

They may be at different ends, but Ikea will pretty much stop anyone who sells furniture from opening up in Cov now. Especially given the general trend in Coventry towards bottom end retailers.

They may be at different ends, but Ikea will pretty much stop anyone who sells furniture from opening up in Cov now. Especially given the general trend in Coventry towards bottom end retailers.

No-one who sells furniture is opening anywhere apart from at Retail Parks, so we aint missing out on anything. Yes the department stores do sell furniture but i consider them totally seperate than things like IKEA, IKEA is like a tourist attraction while John Lewis is more of an every-month shop place.

No-one who sells furniture is opening anywhere apart from at Retail Parks, so we aint missing out on anything. Yes the department stores do sell furniture but i consider them totally seperate than things like IKEA, IKEA is like a tourist attraction while John Lewis is more of an every-month shop place.

I wonder what Allders sales were like? I did read that the Coventry store was one of those that made a profit.

I still think Ikea is more Coventry than JL.

That said, what is their expansion plan?

Every major town/city except Cov, from the looks of it.:)

15 miles away? It's not _that_ close, especially when you consider that there's over 1/2 million (Prob more) people within ten miles of Cov City centre! And some of those areas are amongst the most prosperous in the UK... (Including some parts of Cov itself.)

Well, not so long ago there wasn't even one in Solihull, so yes, in JL's eyes 15 miles isn't much. IMO given they are a conservative company, they are not likely to open one in Cov, Brum and Walsall/Wolves to ensure they get all the catchment.

Again though, if they undergo a Debenhams-like expansion drive, then who knows?

Well, not so long ago there wasn't even one in Solihull, so yes, in JL's eyes 15 miles isn't much. IMO given they are a conservative company, they are not likely to open one in Cov, Brum and Walsall/Wolves to ensure they get all the catchment.

Again though, if they undergo a Debenhams-like expansion drive, then who knows?

They are expanding quite heavily.

Trouble is, I think with Cov businesses/retailers tend to look at the region and think "South/South West cov prosperous, along with Warwick region - North Coventry and North Warwickshire a shithole. Hedge our bets and go for Leamington, and we'll get the prosperous parts of Cov as well as the wealthy of Warwick/Leamington.

The typical demographic for John Lewis is simply not catered for in much of Coventry. Why would the Group wish to invest in another store when there is a high-profile store at the Touchwood centre in Solihull, about a 25 minute drive away from Coventry ?

Such a store would simply cannabilse the company's own customer base from Solihull to cater for the prosperous mid-Warks towns of Leamington Spa, Warwick, Kenilworth, Balsall Common, Henley-in-Arden and and Alcester etc, as well as Coventry's more afflluent southern suburbs such as Cannon Park, Finham, Earlsdon and Gibbet Hill etc. The business plan just would'nt stand up. If a national store marketing manager from John Lewis were to come up to Coventry and take one look at it in its present state, he would know in an instant that this is quite simply not the place for their 'brand' to be seen. Simple as that.

At present, Coventry is more 'Just For A Pound' than John Lewis and people are kidding themselves if they think this store will come anywhere near the city within the next decade at the very least.

The typical demographic for John Lewis is simply not catered for in much of Coventry. Why would the Group wish to invest in another store when there is a high-profile store at the Touchwood centre in Solihull, about a 25 minute drive away from Coventry ?

Such a store would simply cannabilse the company's own customer base from Solihull to cater for the prosperous mid-Warks towns of Leamington Spa, Warwick, Kenilworth, Balsall Common, Henley-in-Arden and and Alcester etc, as well as Coventry's more afflluent southern suburbs such as Cannon Park, Finham, Earlsdon and Gibbet Hill etc. The business plan just would'nt stand up. If a national store marketing manager from John Lewis were to come up to Coventry and take one look at it in its present state, he would know in an instant that this is quite simply not the place for their 'brand' to be seen. Simple as that.

At present, Coventry is more 'Just For A Pound' than John Lewis and people are kidding themselves if they think this store will come anywhere near the city within the next decade at the very least.

I think the state of the precinct is something that may be being sorted out. I agree about John Lewis, although there must be some call for a department store of that type in Cov - one existed up until 2 years ago, and was popular even when the chain closed down.

As Scazmattaz says - these stores want a new development, not a tired old building in an area filled with downmarket stores. This is why it's ende up being Primark (Who are only using half the building.)

Its the environment thats more important and the provision of a direct-access carpark (JL love MSCPs with say a bridge into the store) and a high-quality environment; until the entirity of Market Way, Barracks, Hertford Street and parts of the Precinct are well and truely rebuilt then that aint gonna happen!

Its the environment thats more important and the provision of a direct-access carpark (JL love MSCPs with say a bridge into the store) and a high-quality environment; until the entirity of Market Way, Barracks, Hertford Street and parts of the Precinct are well and truely rebuilt then that aint gonna happen!


I can't see that Pig coming into land at Coventry Airport.:)

But 'tis true, and I can't see it happening.

From Property Week:

http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3093404&c=1

ProLogis to pounce on coveted Coventry site


ProLogis is poised to buy a 65 acre slice of the former Peugeot car factory in Coventry for around £40m

The site in Ryton, Coventry, is being sold by the Barclay brothers, who bought the entire 142 acre site for £60m in March.

The shed giant is about to sign for the land this week, having been one of several underbidders for the original deal.

The 142 acre site was bought by the Barclay brothers’ investment vehicle, Trenport Investments, for £60m in March and is one of the most prized industrial development sites in the Midlands.

The brothers will retain 25 acres at Ryton to house a 200,000 sq ft distribution warehouse for their Littlewoods Home Delivery Network business. The sale of the 65 acre strip has recouped a large amount of the Barclay brothers’ original outlay.

The rest of the land at the former car plant that they will retain is earmarked for residential development.

The site is coveted because it is rare to find so much undeveloped distribution space in this part of the West Midlands...

Hey so Warwickshire will be building some houses then, about time! I dont imagine they'd be executive homes either.

Sainsbury's plans Coventry move – Financial Times
08:55 | 17.08.07

Sainsbury’s is planning to move its general merchandise operation to Coventry as part of efforts to increase non-food sales.
The supermarket wants to consolidate its non-food staff in Coventry, where its £250m-a-year TU clothing business is already based.


Th retailer has received an indicative takeover bid proposal of 600p-a-share from Qatari-backed investor Delta Two.


Is this office space or warehouse?

Sainsbury's plans Coventry move – Financial Times
08:55 | 17.08.07

Sainsbury’s is planning to move its general merchandise operation to Coventry as part of efforts to increase non-food sales.
The supermarket wants to consolidate its non-food staff in Coventry, where its £250m-a-year TU clothing business is already based.


Th retailer has received an indicative takeover bid proposal of 600p-a-share from Qatari-backed investor Delta Two.


Is this office space or warehouse?

I'd imagine it'd be both - you'd need a logistics team and also buyers/financial folk for an operation like that.

I'd imagine it'd be both - you'd need a logistics team and also buyers/financial folk for an operation like that.

actually i have a friend who works for sainsburys buying team on chancery lane, i'll ask her and find out whats going on.

If Sainsbury's are looking to expand into non-food lines in a similar way to Tesco (and to compete on a like-for-like basis), they will need to construct a fairly sizeable facility, especially if they are looking at moving into FMCG's/white goods etc in a big way (much like French hypermarkets and Wal-Mart in the US have been doing for several years now, as have Tesco and to some extent Asda Wal-Mart in the UK).

The size of the development will be dependent on how rapidly they wish to expand this area of their business (ie, will they be purchasing a very large plot for further exapnsion ?). Sainsbury's has only very recently become a healthy business again after 15 years in the doldrums, and they will want to be careful they do not overexpand too quickly. They will really need to think about this investment.

As Martin says, this will probably not only be a logistics centre/distribution hub, but more likely it will house the non-food division's head office functions such as finance, HR and procurement/purchasing etc. This will mean plenty of jobs, both blue and white collar. The only downside is that yet another huge white slab is going to built near the M6/A46 interchange (probably), to go with all the other faceless white slabs. I guess there's always a pay-off with these things, but overall it's a good thing and I'd rather the jobs come to Coventry than elsewhere.

If Sainsbury's are looking to expand into non-food lines in a similar way to Tesco (and to compete on a like-for-like basis), they will need to construct a fairly sizeable facility, especially if they are looking at moving into FMCG's/white goods etc in a big way (much like French hypermarkets and Wal-Mart in the US have been doing for several years now, as have Tesco and to some extent Asda Wal-Mart in the UK).

The size of the development will be dependent on how rapidly they wish to expand this area of their business (ie, will they be purchasing a very large plot for further exapnsion ?). Sainsbury's has only very recently become a healthy business again after 15 years in the doldrums, and they will want to be careful they do not overexpand too quickly. They will really need to think about this investment.

As Martin says, this will probably not only be a logistics centre/distribution hub, but more likely it will house the non-food division's head office functions such as finance, HR and procurement/purchasing etc. This will mean plenty of jobs, both blue and white collar. The only downside is that yet another huge white slab is going to built near the M6/A46 interchange (probably), to go with all the other faceless white slabs. I guess there's always a pay-off with these things, but overall it's a good thing and I'd rather the jobs come to Coventry than elsewhere.

Ansty maybe?

Relocation relocation! :lol:

Ansty maybe?

Relocation relocation! :lol:

I hope not! I was hoping Ericsson/TATA would set up at Ansty. If they don't get more High Tech jobs in Cov, then I'll have to look elsewhere for work. And I don't want to disrupt the family or move away from Earlsdon at the moment!:ohno:

Iv got this feeling that it will be TATA that opens there, but if they buy jag and land rover they they wont because they wont have any need to, they will simply increase the capacity at the jag facility. AWM have said that they are attracting the IT industry and have a number of potential occupiers lined up already.

Iv got this feeling that it will be TATA that opens there, but if they buy jag and land rover they they wont because they wont have any need to, they will simply increase the capacity at the jag facility. AWM have said that they are attracting the IT industry and have a number of potential occupiers lined up already.

TATA would buy Jag simply to get hold of the R&D and skills there. They won't need Ansty in that case. It's something I'm watching with great interest, as I write software for automotive components (Including parts that go in Jaguars!)

There's also a new office unit being built out at Cross Point business park in Walsgrave.

I wonder if we'll ever see the land currently wasted as huge car parks get redeveloped?

Iv got this feeling that it will be TATA that opens there, but if they buy jag and land rover they they wont because they wont have any need to, they will simply increase the capacity at the jag facility. AWM have said that they are attracting the IT industry and have a number of potential occupiers lined up already.

i would have preferred it to have gone more orientated towards a medical technology park - TATA should have bought the old Peugeot factory in my mind if they were/are going to do anything. Isn't most of Browns Lane residential housing now. I thought it was just the veneer workshop and museum left now.

i would have preferred it to have gone more orientated towards a medical technology park - TATA should have bought the old Peugeot factory in my mind if they were/are going to do anything. Isn't most of Browns Lane residential housing now. I thought it was just the veneer workshop and museum left now.

The medical research park seems to have been pie in the sky. They've been mooting it for years, but it looks like nothing has happened.

I think Browns Lane is being developed for business/industry - not housing.

TATA would want a new office development for their R&D centre, not a factory - which is prob. why they're interested in a new development that will have other hi-tech firms.

The junior salesman and the rising young executive were once the outcasts of business travel.

Their companies would not pay for luxury hotels, yet the aspiring businessmen were unwilling to suffer the nylon sheets and plastic flowers of guesthouses.

Seemingly overnight, from town centres to business parks, the UK is covered with hotels bearing such names as Express by Holiday Inn, Premier Travel Inn, Travelodge, Etap, Ibis and EasyHotel.

‘Hotel operators are clambering over themselves to acquire new sites,’ says Greg Childs, associate director in Savills’ hotel department.

‘Premier Travel Inn and Travelodge almost entirely dominate the market, both looking to sign between 30 and 40 sites each next year. Accor, the French chain, has been rolling out Etap and Ibis. However they don’t appear

to have been as sharp or aggressive in their acquisition strategy and have lost out on countless sites.’

Some of these brands grew by franchise. Franchisers have to promise a franchisee a clear run by not selling another franchise within a certain radius. But expansion has been so rapid that these exclusivity zones are touching each other. That makes it perfect timing for a newcomer: enter Hilton International.

Prospective franchisees have been visiting Hilton’s Watford headquarters this month to see a mock-up of a hotel room from its new Hampton by Hilton brand.

Standing in the 226 sq ft ersatz room, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton senior vice-president for development in Europe and Africa, demonstrates its features with a gadget-lover’s zeal: the power points, the internet connection, the flat-screen television, the sliding door that shields either the bathroom or the cupboard, the couch with a unique Italian mechanism that turns it into a bed to lie alongside the existing bed, and many more.

The creation of each room will cost the franchisee £55,000, excluding the price of land and fees.

But it will be another 18 months before the first guest pays £65 to spend the night in a Hampton. If planning permission is granted, Sandringham Investments Pension Fund will open the first Hamptons in Corby and Coventry. By 2009 Shiva Hotels will have opened a Hampton in Leeds.

Hilton bought the Hampton chain, founded in 1984, 10 years ago, expanding it to 1,400 hotels across five countries before targeting prospective franchisees and ultimately guests in the UK.

Last month, Hilton presented the concept to would-be franchisees, agents and investors in the new Tower Bridge Hilton, where they heard that the 75 UK Hiltons would increase to 175 by 2016, and half of them would be Hamptons, of which the franchisees would buy a 22-year agreement.

Fitzgibbon believes that this month’s $26bn takeover of the Hilton Hotels Corporation by the Blackstone Group could hasten the development programme.

This month, post-presentation, another franchisee agreed to develop and operate a further 20 Hamptons. So far the largest franchise agreement has been signed with Somerston Hotels for 25 Hamptons.

Fitzgibbon is confident that the franchisees will find sufficient sites for 50 Hamptons.

‘Premier Travel Inn, Travelodge and Express by Holiday Inn are significant competitors to us as new entrants into the sector,’ he says.

‘But part of the opportunity for us is that someone like Express by Holiday Inn will have an exclusivity agreement that will prevent someone doing an Express because there is already one in the area, specifically preventing the Express brand. You can’t do an Express a few kilometres away, but there is no reason why we can’t build next door.’

Fitzgibbon points out that rival hotels are built closer together in the US. In the UK he sees the opportunity for Hampton at the entrance to business parks or in town centres where, with the agreement of planners, the franchisee could develop 20-storey hotels with eight rooms to a floor.

This is the new brand hotel i was talking about last week.

Design Council chairman Sir George Cox has declared Coventry University's state-of-the-art Design Hub officially open.

Sir George, who produced the Government-commissioned Cox Review urging more university support for the creative industries, cut the ribbon at a special ceremony.

The Design Hub is geared to support design-led companies and entrepreneurs in the West Midlands. Businesses can benefit from design assistance, product development and intellectual property advice, while the Hub space can also be tailored for client presentations, meetings, training and hotdesking. Thirty-four businesses have already signed up to work with the Design Hub team.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Sir George said that the new Coventry University initiative was a landmark step in helping UK design companies prosper.

"Since my report was completed there has been a strong shift in understanding of the importance of design and how we prepare our designers, technologists and future managers to blend each others' skills more effectively," Sir George said. "The opening of the Design Hub should put Coventry in the forefront of this movement."

Sir George's review was triggered by concerns that UK business was not realising the full potential of its creative talent. There was particular anxiety that design-led small and medium-sized enterprises were not getting the support they needed to produce innovative products and take them to market.


Design Hub programmes manager Kathryn Stewartsaid she was delighted that Sir George had accepted their invitation to open the building. "Everything we have done here is on the back of the Cox Review so it is fitting that such an influential figure should see our work at first hand," she added.


Funded by the University's commercial arm, Coventry University Enterprises, and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, the Design Hub is based at the university's Technology Parkon Puma Way.


During his visit, Sir George also met vice-chancellor Prof Madeleine Atkins and staff from the university's Health Design and Technology Institute, Institute of Creative Enterprise and School of Art and Design.


This will surely put coventry even further at the forefront of the design and creative industries. This is a great addition to the city.

hey guys just found this, its a small portion of a much laeger article but the only relevant bit.

Raggett anticipates that only around 50 per cent of his workload will be in retail, but so far it remains a key element. He is advising Modus Properties on the regeneration of Coventry's West Orchards shopping centre. This is part of a comprehensive redevelopment package aiming to turn the city centre back into a first-choice shoppers' destination.

"In the future the emphasis will be on tired second-tier centres where there is strong political leadership to deliver change," he predicts, citing Taunton as an example. "Birmingham is regarded as the model. Now it is the turn of places such as Coventry and Telford. A lot of new towns are seeing a need for further change because they have had no significant investment in 20 or 30 years."

i know its not alot but again just reiterates the fact that something is happening behind the scenes.

hey guys just found this, its a small portion of a much laeger article but the only relevant bit.

Raggett anticipates that only around 50 per cent of his workload will be in retail, but so far it remains a key element. He is advising Modus Properties on the regeneration of Coventry's West Orchards shopping centre. This is part of a comprehensive redevelopment package aiming to turn the city centre back into a first-choice shoppers' destination.

"In the future the emphasis will be on tired second-tier centres where there is strong political leadership to deliver change," he predicts, citing Taunton as an example. "Birmingham is regarded as the model. Now it is the turn of places such as Coventry and Telford. A lot of new towns are seeing a need for further change because they have had no significant investment in 20 or 30 years."

i know its not alot but again just reiterates the fact that something is happening behind the scenes.

I think there's a definite will for change under the Tories - something that Labour lacked. Too fond of the socialist architecture.:)

What was the context of the article? And who is "Raggett"?

I think there's a definite will for change under the Tories - something that Labour lacked. Too fond of the socialist architecture.:)

What was the context of the article? And who is "Raggett"?

it was just like a biography of raggot, he was with one company but has now moved to strutt and parker, iv lost the link now but i think it was on planningresource website.

sounds like they are really wanting to push the centre of peace idea.

http://www.coventryambassadors.com/home/home/

sounds like they are really wanting to push the centre of peace idea.

http://www.coventryambassadors.com/home/home/

Complete waste of time - no one in Coventry gives a hoot about this peace and reconcilliation garbage.

Complete waste of time - no one in Coventry gives a hoot about this peace and reconcilliation garbage.

You're right there. The majority of people in Coventry want better retail and leisure facilites - not more hippie bullshit. We've already got 3 Cathedrals and they're successful already. We don't need a new 'reconciliation' centre to be built in addition. Restaurants, offices, retail and leisure/sports buildings are what we need.

You're right there. The majority of people in Coventry want better retail and leisure facilites - not more hippie bullshit. We've already got 3 Cathedrals and they're successful already. We don't need a new 'reconciliation' centre to be built in addition. Restaurants, offices, retail and leisure/sports buildings are what we need.

Whay, we agree at last!:banana:

What goes in a "reconciliation centre"? How does is sustain itself week after week? What research does it do?

I wish they'd stop banging on about it.

hey guys just found this, its a small portion of a much laeger article but the only relevant bit.

Raggett anticipates that only around 50 per cent of his workload will be in retail, but so far it remains a key element. He is advising Modus Properties on the regeneration of Coventry's West Orchards shopping centre. This is part of a comprehensive redevelopment package aiming to turn the city centre back into a first-choice shoppers' destination.

"In the future the emphasis will be on tired second-tier centres where there is strong political leadership to deliver change," he predicts, citing Taunton as an example. "Birmingham is regarded as the model. Now it is the turn of places such as Coventry and Telford. A lot of new towns are seeing a need for further change because they have had no significant investment in 20 or 30 years."

i know its not alot but again just reiterates the fact that something is happening behind the scenes.


That's all very well, but it's desperately sad to see us listed alongside the likes of Telford (a little under half the size of Coventry) and Taunton, the county town of Somerset (pop. around 55,000). These places are'nt even 'second-tier' centres nationally, though perhaps regionally they are.