COVENTRY | Full Summary of Projects

[Dr Pepper]

Whats the best image hosting site to use? I have many photos I would like to upload.

[ccfc-4-life]

Whats the best image hosting site to use? I have many photos I would like to upload.

i would use

http://www.tinypic.com

its very straightforward and easy to use, just make sure you change your pictures to jpg before uploading;)

hope to see your pictures soon:)

[ccfc-4-life]

Just glancing at the planning portal, and I notice there are more plans for the technology business park at Whitley (Jaguar) going through, plus a load of plans for the big development on the old Peugot plant in Stoke. Oh, and some more buildings for the Cov Uni Technology park - a healthcare centre.

Does anyone know how far the new Herbert Art Gallery extension has got? Not been around there for some time.

Missing in Action?:

Butts Apartments?
Paragon Park?
Victorian Building?

PS: There are plenty of cities and smaller towns in the UK that "tick all the boxes".

I am sure there are many places around the UK that are better than Coventry, but i doubt there is a city/town/village etc. that is better than cov or any other city in every way- That "ticks all the boxes"

as for the rest of your post, i havent heard any news on the butts appartments, but a friend of mine has told me that the butts appartments wont go ahead until the 2nd phase of the Butts Park Arena development is announced, cant think of any logical reason why this could be. Btw, when/if the Butts Appartments are approved and underway, will the theatre close down temporerilly?

I have heard nothing of Paragon Park or the Victoria Buildings i'm affraid...:(

[rottersclub]

I am sure there are many places around the UK that are better than Coventry, but i doubt there is a city/town/village etc. that is better than cov or any other city in every way- That "ticks all the boxes"


I'm afraid there are. Coventry is, at best, a mediocre medium sized city.

Listen to the song "More than Blues" by All About Eve - it was written about Coventry, and it sums the place up brilliantly.

[Dr Pepper]

I have heard nothing of Paragon Park or the Victoria Buildings i'm affraid...:(

I remember the big front page ET anouncement about Paragon Park.....over 3 years ago. Didn't the guy developing it want to name one of the new streets after his mother?

[Dr Pepper]

Listen to the song "More than Blues" by All About Eve - it was written about Coventry, and it sums the place up brilliantly.

And "Ghost Town" by the Specials of course.

Lets not forget the socio-political context in which they were written though.

[rottersclub]

And "Ghost Town" by the Specials of course.

Lets not forget the socio-political context in which they were written though.

The All About Eve song is somewhat different - just about a nowhere kind of town, and it's also later as well, late 1980s. The Specials song really applied to what was happening across Britain, not just Coventry.

[rottersclub]

I remember the big front page ET anouncement about Paragon Park.....over 3 years ago. Didn't the guy developing it want to name one of the new streets after his mother?

Yes. They've got outline permission for it.

[Dr Pepper]

Hope this works.

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i11.tinypic.com/6c3zww0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

This was taken yesterday. I presume the new University building will stand where the crane is.

[Dr Pepper]

Try again.

http://i11.tinypic.com/6c3zww0.jpg

[Jags]

I think with all the ensuing redevelopment that is happening to the city centre, we will soon see the range and diversity that it really needs. At the moment it has some major tourist attractions that arent really advertised anywhere, but i think with the belgrade about to come back into the limelite, the transport museum, herbert art gallery and the cathedrals and so on, the general tourist traps are there. But there needs to be a major over haul to get these people to come here and not just visit the sites but spend money here. I am hoping the new city centre master plan will really sort this out by not just buillding a shopping mall but to open the city up and create a real focal point that is joined up. There is a natural link between the cathedral quater, the shopping quater and the soon to be belgrade plaza, this needs to be utilised to create a natural walkway to these developments. This is the key, if they do not link everything together and create a real mixture of shopping, eating, entertainment and relaxation then the city is doomed to fail. The council and the land owners must be bold and not just design something special but actually implement it. They need to CPO (i know this is expensive) buildings that are on the verge of collapse such as the brittania hotel, the student accomodation, the sports centre and the burges.
They also need to chase up developers with mooted projects such as millenium view, axa building and belgrade plaza. These are all great projects that have ben in the pipeline for far too long and havent started. The council are just too slow.

With the number and diversity of developments happening or are being planned in the city, i think it is only a matter of time before the city gets the good reputation it deserves. There are a huge number of housing developments in coventry that are either being built or are in the pipeline and coventry definitly has the spend power to support these. With great developments like Friarsgate in the pipeline the city economy will be boosted significantly in the day and in the evening, if the development can attract relocations and private sector businesses there will be a whole new market to cater for and investment will continue to pour in.

I think companies like Radisson Edwardian, Ikea, bella italia ect.... will have a big effect and create a hype about the city. I know they are just big chain companies, but for there to be a successfull economy they are the ones that need to be drawn into the area for others to follow. Chain bars in Coventry are doing well and you have therefore seen the opening of independant bars and restaurants to cater for those that want that something different. But yes more is needed and it is coming even if it is slow, my feeling is that all these developments are waiting for each other to start, they all tried to attract the same people and are now trying to find other suitable occupiers. Flats in the city have have failed to be popular because the centre just doesnt have an evening economy but i see this changing within the next 2-3 years, flat prices have dropped considerably in the centre and more people are looking to occupy these because they are now relativly affordable. So before these flats can be built there needs to be a significant change in the evening economy which will happen eventually. There needs to be something for people from other cities and towns to want to come to coventry and it just doesnt have that rite now, i think if a major retailer were to open in the city along side ikea it will have a huge impact on the number of visitors and jobs that will come to coventry.

I can understand the frustation of all these great developments being mooted and then taking too long to happen, and i totally agree with the lonely planet guy when he says that it is a concrete jungle because effectlivly it is. But i can see big changes ahead and am very exited, so fingers crossed that belgrade gets started soon and that friarsgate gets full permission.

[Dr Pepper]

Work has now started with the houses being gutted.

http://i14.tinypic.com/68a7xo5.jpg

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These houses are also due to go. The upper left bay window of the two semi-detached houses on the right was my room in my second year at Coventry Uni. I shall be sad to see it go. It was rather relaxing watching the traffic go by.

http://i12.tinypic.com/4pt9ik8.jpg

[rottersclub]

They truly are manky old Edwardian houses. I think the ringroad'll look better if its surrounded by tall buildings. Friargate looks to have a fairly tall one opposite this development.

[sleslie48]

im actually uncertain about that development. I know the buildings there at the moment are really bad cos they are run down, and beyond saving Im sure. This looks like something that would fit in well next to trinity point and isn't anything striking, it's very similar to every other blcok of new appartments thats being built at the moment here and I think will look cheap. Hopefully won't look as out of place when friarsgate is completed.

[rottersclub]

im actually uncertain about that development. I know the buildings there at the moment are really bad cos they are run down, and beyond saving Im sure. This looks like something that would fit in well next to trinity point and isn't anything striking, it's very similar to every other blcok of new appartments thats being built at the moment here and I think will look cheap. Hopefully won't look as out of place when friarsgate is completed.

It doesn't look as cheap as Trinity Point, but you're right, it's not good much character to it.

I think anything will look out of place in Coventry as the place is such an awkward mish-mash!

[Scazmattaz]

Wooo i love it! It fits in with other developments that have occured / will occur in the city centre and yeh its a bit plain, but at least it has a kinda theme of white render and brown wood like the other developments. I think the Ring Road will look 10x better when these development are built abutting it and it will give a far better impression to those travelling through the city.

Belgrade Plaza is still the key to this image and the sooner they get building the Radisson the better!!!

[rottersclub]

Wooo i love it! It fits in with other developments that have occured / will occur in the city centre and yeh its a bit plain, but at least it has a kinda theme of white render and brown wood like the other developments. I think the Ring Road will look 10x better when these development are built abutting it and it will give a far better impression to those travelling through the city.

Belgrade Plaza is still the key to this image and the sooner they get building the Radisson the better!!!

I agree... I think it'll look OK, especially as it's in an area with no tallish buildings. I hope they line the ringroad with heaps more tall buildings like this - those manky old houses are past their sell-by date. From what I remember, they're all bedsits!

[Jags]

Yep like i said earlier if thay arent going to demolish it then they need to line it with really tall buildings and hide it. They need to do what major other American cities have done, they have lasrge flyovers but build huge buildings lining them so that it has a built up feeling. I actually doubt that this development is going to happen, i think the land will be sold on to a smaller developer who whill just turn it into a lowrise apartment block. I cant see a 17 storey building being built here at all, city apartments are just not shifting so they wont build it.

[rottersclub]

Yep like i said earlier if thay arent going to demolish it then they need to line it with really tall buildings and hide it. They need to do what major other American cities have done, they have lasrge flyovers but build huge buildings lining them so that it has a built up feeling. I actually doubt that this development is going to happen, i think the land will be sold on to a smaller developer who whill just turn it into a lowrise apartment block. I cant see a 17 storey building being built here at all, city apartments are just not shifting so they wont build it.

Is this true, though? A few years back a company bought a whole load of apartments in Coventry - one of the largest deals for apartments in the UK that year, and on a scale you only see in placed like London and Manchester.

The fact that this development is over the bridge from Friarsgate may mean it'll go ahead. As more employment comes to the city centre, there'll be more demand for this sort of housing.

The original plan was 20 storeys high. They made them lower it.

[Jags]

i personally think that they will be hard pushed to sell them,the kind of people who will work at friarsgate are all going to want to live in the south of cov orleamington, they arent really going to want to live right oposite where they work, that only really happens in london because its a nightmare to commute, in coventry there isnt really that problem.

I think the reason that deal happened is because there was a real hype surrounding coventry at the time, particularly with the phoenix initiative. This was great but the council screwed up by not contiunuing the pace of change and just letting it stagnate, they didnt bring the jobs into the city so therefore the developments just stopped there just wasnt the demand. In fact the company who bought the flats and offices in cov are still trying to get rid of them at a knock down price. Unless real change is made in term of leisure and entertainment in the centre, none of these flats will get built IMO. But you never know, the gov agency workers may just want to rent in cov during the week and go back to london at the weekends (thats what i would do) meaning that city flats will be snapped up at cheap prices or rented. Ithink coventry is at a knife edge if it doesnt get all these developments started and filled then the city will struggle, if it works then i think will go the same way as Bristol has gone and Leicester is going.

[rottersclub]

i personally think that they will be hard pushed to sell them,the kind of people who will work at friarsgate are all going to want to live in the south of cov orleamington, they arent really going to want to live right oposite where they work, that only really happens in london because its a nightmare to commute, in coventry there isnt really that problem.

I think the reason that deal happened is because there was a real hype surrounding coventry at the time, particularly with the phoenix initiative. This was great but the council screwed up by not contiunuing the pace of change and just letting it stagnate, they didnt bring the jobs into the city so therefore the developments just stopped there just wasnt the demand. In fact the company who bought the flats and offices in cov are still trying to get rid of them at a knock down price. Unless real change is made in term of leisure and entertainment in the centre, none of these flats will get built IMO. But you never know, the gov agency workers may just want to rent in cov during the week and go back to london at the weekends (thats what i would do) meaning that city flats will be snapped up at cheap prices or rented. Ithink coventry is at a knife edge if it doesnt get all these developments started and filled then the city will struggle, if it works then i think will go the same way as Bristol has gone and Leicester is going.

I think there's a good reason why they won't live in Leamington - affordability. People are actually starting to look at Coventry now as Leamington/Warwick is too expensive (Local estate agents have noticed this.) Apartments in Coventry are far cheaper than those in Leamington.

I agree about the Leisure - it needs more attractions here. I was in Priory Place today to see the new Frank Whittle statue - it looks brilliant - but they need to sort out the kids hanging around. It's not their hanging around that's a problem - it's that they're making such a fucking mess and the place doesn't have a good atmosphere. I certainly wouldn't go and sit outside Dogma with a rowdy bunch of kids throwing stuff at each other nearby. We were pushing the pram down the ramp and one the horrible kids threw a bag down and almost hit us! I almost went postal and kicked the little fucker to death.

[rottersclub]

Nothing happening with Millennium View, either... Still a "Land for sale" up. Although hasn't there been a picture showing a large building going up here?

[Jags]

I think there's a good reason why they won't live in Leamington - affordability. People are actually starting to look at Coventry now as Leamington/Warwick is too expensive (Local estate agents have noticed this.) Apartments in Coventry are far cheaper than those in Leamington.

I agree about the Leisure - it needs more attractions here. I was in Priory Place today to see the new Frank Whittle statue - it looks brilliant - but they need to sort out the kids hanging around. It's not their hanging around that's a problem - it's that they're making such a fucking mess and the place doesn't have a good atmosphere. I certainly wouldn't go and sit outside Dogma with a rowdy bunch of kids throwing stuff at each other nearby. We were pushing the pram down the ramp and one the horrible kids threw a bag down and almost hit us! I almost went postal and kicked the little fucker to death.

Yea leamington is really expensive, but its expensive because is nice. Coventry is cheap because its cheap, lol. The reason leamington is nice is because it has a great grid system with great buildings that actually go somewhere, even the new development leads back onto the parade so you dont just end at a dead end. Leamington also has the river and great parks very close to the centre, these make a big difference, it has basically used the great features it has very effectively, where as coventry has hemmed them in and they have been lost because of a crazy planning system and the council scared attitude to actually spend the money on doing something rite. The council thinks by having stupid ideas they will make up for the poor city centre, they just need to start again and use the centre as if it is a blank canvas, which is really is. They need to be bold and do what places like Manchester, brum, sheffield,leeds and in particular Bristol has done. Bristol should be seen as a guide, it was a horrible place before, but the council has really turned the place around. I hope coventry can do the same, it needs the jobs to do this and mixing is the best form of redevelopment, majority of people move out of London to have a bigger house with gardens not move into flats, the odd young proffessional will want an apartment with good views, but cov doesnt really have that. More areas on the outskirst of cov will need to be built on for the influx of good quality housing to be built.

When all the flats in cov were built i think they were way overpriced thats why they didnt sell, now they have come down alot in price and people are seriously considering moving into the city, with belgrade plaza soon to start i think the city centre will soon start to become popular. I definitly see Belgrade plaza being a catalyst for people moving into the centre and i see Friarsgate being a catalyst for jobs moving into the centre, and the revedelopment of current office space in the centre.

[Jags]

Nothing happening with Millennium View, either... Still a "Land for sale" up. Although hasn't there been a picture showing a large building going up here?

Millenium view has had a development cancelled, redesigned and the proposal accepted, they are waiting for a detailed planning application from the developers. This has been going on for almost a year now. The site has been empty for at least three years if not longer. Who knows what is going on. The council need someone to chase these developments up otherwise they will never get built, if the council arent bothered then why should the developers?
Its a prime peice of land and still nothing has happened, its a real shame.

[rottersclub]

Yea leamington is really expensive, but its expensive because is nice. Coventry is cheap because its cheap, lol. The reason leamington is nice is because it has a great grid system with great buildings that actually go somewhere, even the new development leads back onto the parade so you dont just end at a dead end. Leamington also has the river and great parks very close to the centre, these make a big difference, it has basically used the great features it has very effectively, where as coventry has hemmed them in and they have been lost because of a crazy planning system and the council scared attitude to actually spend the money on doing something rite. The council thinks by having stupid ideas they will make up for the poor city centre, they just need to start again and use the centre as if it is a blank canvas, which is really is. They need to be bold and do what places like Manchester, brum, sheffield,leeds and in particular Bristol has done. Bristol should be seen as a guide, it was a horrible place before, but the council has really turned the place around. I hope coventry can do the same, it needs the jobs to do this and mixing is the best form of redevelopment, majority of people move out of London to have a bigger house with gardens not move into flats, the odd young proffessional will want an apartment with good views, but cov doesnt really have that. More areas on the outskirst of cov will need to be built on for the influx of good quality housing to be built.

When all the flats in cov were built i think they were way overpriced thats why they didnt sell, now they have come down alot in price and people are seriously considering moving into the city, with belgrade plaza soon to start i think the city centre will soon start to become popular. I definitly see Belgrade plaza being a catalyst for people moving into the centre and i see Friarsgate being a catalyst for jobs moving into the centre, and the revedelopment of current office space in the centre.

Coventry's not all cheap - some parts are very expensive, more expensive than Leamington. Some areas are hugely undesirable, which has put the decent areas up, and this in turn has caused a lot of people in Coventry to look elsewhere. Two families I know are moving to Kenilworth because they can't afford the parts of Coventry they'd like to live in.

You can't really compare the two - Leamington is basically a "one street" sort of town that was planned and build in the 1800s. Coventry's never had a grid of streets as it's always been based on its medieval streetplan and subsequent to that, "new towns" built on the outskirts that were then joined to the old "city" by ribbon developments. (Such as that alongside Albany Road, which linked the Watchmaker's village of Earlsdon with the city centre in the 20the century) Even if Coventry'd survived the blitz, the city centre was filled with a mess of old streets and large factories (Where Cov UNi was, and down where the police station/civic centre was call factories.) - if you go down a lot of those side streets in Leamington, it's surprising how many empty shop units there are.

If you look at old streetplans, Coventry's streets were awkward and the top shops arranged in triangles. It was all a bit haphazard!

[sleslie48]

This is why Coventry could be really good. They aren't restricted by space or having to work around old or good buildings, theres a lot of large spaces that can just be started again. Most cities would kill for this kind of opportunity. I guess cos the whole city is a mess, there isn't the demand for high quality developers, but hopefully this will come.

I really think broadgate is the key. If they can sort out that I think it will spread. If they sort out the North-South (canal to station) and west-east (spon street-far gosford street) streets, which were traditionally the main throughfares, then places in between will take care of themselves. The quality of belgrade plaza and friarsgate will be instrumental in bringing people and diversity to the city centre and people will start to see coventry as a unique city. Where else would two major developments like this be within 10-15 mins walk of each other through the city centre?

Incedentally, I saw people surveying the millenium view site a couple of months ago so hopefully there is stuff happening.

Went to leamington the other day, and although it's really good and very pleasant, I think Coventry could easily compete. The grid layout makes it isn't the most interesting place to wander around. The parks and river are the key to it's sucess I think and this is why Coventry has to look at it's assets and link them together with mixed use buildings through streetscapes.

[rottersclub]

This is why Coventry could be really good. They aren't restricted by space or having to work around old or good buildings, theres a lot of large spaces that can just be started again. Most cities would kill for this kind of opportunity. I guess cos the whole city is a mess, there isn't the demand for high quality developers, but hopefully this will come.

I really think broadgate is the key. If they can sort out that I think it will spread. If they sort out the North-South (canal to station) and west-east (spon street-far gosford street) streets, which were traditionally the main throughfares, then places in between will take care of themselves. The quality of belgrade plaza and friarsgate will be instrumental in bringing people and diversity to the city centre and people will start to see coventry as a unique city. Where else would two major developments like this be within 10-15 mins walk of each other through the city centre?

Incedentally, I saw people surveying the millenium view site a couple of months ago so hopefully there is stuff happening.

Went to leamington the other day, and although it's really good and very pleasant, I think Coventry could easily compete. The grid layout makes it isn't the most interesting place to wander around. The parks and river are the key to it's sucess I think and this is why Coventry has to look at it's assets and link them together with mixed use buildings through streetscapes.

I don't think Cov's got a chance of competing with Leamington, not unless they attract some really different _big_ stuff to Cov.

Cov already has some areas that could be made attractive if they had more life in them. Little Park street - where the council buildings are - is pretty well laid out green area. Greyfriar's Green could be excellent. It still looks the same as it did before the war, part of old Coventry that's not been destroyed.

Both areas are under utilised.

[Jags]

housing in the south of cov is stupidly priced, iv recently viewed a few houses in westwood heath because i want to move that way and the prices are rediculous for the size of house.The houses are tiny, but the area is beautiful. Im just going to wait for something to come up on Leamington road that isnt stupidly priced.

[Jags]

I don't think Cov's got a chance of competing with Leamington, not unless they attract some really different _big_ stuff to Cov.

Cov already has some areas that could be made attractive if they had more life in them. Little Park street - where the council buildings are - is pretty well laid out green area. Greyfriar's Green could be excellent. It still looks the same as it did before the war, part of old Coventry that's not been destroyed.

Both areas are under utilised.

I think cov has more than enough potential to compete with leamington and any other UK city if it is redeveloped properly and has a great diversity and mix within the centre.

[rottersclub]

I think cov has more than enough potential to compete with leamington and any other UK city if it is redeveloped properly and has a great diversity and mix within the centre.

Coventry doesn't have the mix of population (Mix as in the different "social" gradings) that other cities do. This is why the council want to bring in 100,000 new people, and this is why Coventry is lagging behind.

This may be changing, but not enough for the city to support the diversity of leisure/shopping that other cities have yet.

[rottersclub]

We drove down Foleshill Road this weekend - that place needs a severe bout of redevelopment. There's a huge empty space that's all overgrown, and a motley collection of derelict looking shacks. Pretty grim all the way down to the Canal bridge.

Scazmattaz... Is Sprint still happening?

[ccfc-4-life]

could somebody post some renders of the Friards rd / st patricks rd redevelopment please

[Dr Pepper]

I took these a few weeks ago but the building is basically finished. Not too sure about the metal cladding and the window design make it look like a prison. I do like the pillars and glass though. The second building is just begining groundwork and a new square it due in the future.


http://i13.tinypic.com/4u2dv0k.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/61ldxxd.jpg

[Dr Pepper]

This is one of the cities oldest streets and is currently undergoing some much needed improvements. The road is now one way with new paving, kerbing, lighting, building restoration and infilling.


This is the top of the street where it reaches Sky Blue Way. The old toilet block has been demolished and the area around the trees has been cleared of bushes and turfed making the area brighter and more welcoming.

http://i13.tinypic.com/662rzft.jpg



These are some of Coventry's few remaining top shops. These desperately need restoring. I wonder who owns them?

http://i16.tinypic.com/628bv9u.jpg



The three storey building and the two storey building to the right are new builds, filling in the gaps. The frontages are in the same style as the older buildings, right down to the detailings around the doors. The taller building is made up of flats.

http://i12.tinypic.com/6cysz8y.jpg



This is the Hand and Heart pub. Its been disused for some time now, hopefully a new use can be found for this building.

http://i13.tinypic.com/4qzjsdu.jpg



These timber framed buildings are currently undergoing restoration.

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Hopefully the same will happen to these.

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[rottersclub]

Dr Pepper, thanks for those great photographs. As a history fan, I find Far Gosford Street painful to look at - a medieval street that also contains top shops that has been left to slowly decay over the years.

There are so few topshops left, they need to preserved - they look a mess from behind.

The medieval buildings next to the hand and heart are being renovated as part of the planning permission for a bunch of houses/apartments behind the hand and heart, which includes the H&H pub as well. What a sad sight - my local for 3 years as a student, and we had plenty of lock ins there. Sigh. What an incredible sight to see all the medieval timbers uncovered!

Most cities would kill to have a street of medieval buildings like that! Shame about its location.

[rottersclub]

I'm in two minds about the college buildig - like you say, the grey bit with windows looks a bit brutal, but the glass bit looks OK. Still, it looks better than what was there before.

[rottersclub]

could somebody post some renders of the Friards rd / st patricks rd redevelopment please

They used to be on the planning portal, but you'd have to search for it. It look OK, actually, a striking building for that location

[sleslie48]

It's a shame they cant pick up gosford street and place it in the centre, next to the cathedral somewhere i guess would be appropriate. THe council often harp on about old Coventry but this is the state of one of the most historic bits. At least they are doing something, but again they need to look at the bigger picture. It's surrounded by one of the busiest roundabouts, a huge junction, 5-6 lane roads and housing that breeds trouble and a lack of respect for, well, anything. On top of that, for anyone to get to it from the centre, they have to walk through the Cov uni Campus. No one is going to go there unless your a resident living in that area. Even when I used to walk to friends who lived near ball hill, I'd avoid it because it seemed safer to walk up next to the dual carrige way. Swanswell could have helped to save it, if jordan well and gosford street were diversified that would help too, but these things wont happen so it will never get any better.

On the one of those photos you can see some cobbles in the road that were the original road surface. I walked down there when they were doing those improvements and they had tarmac around them and a strip of cobbles left running up the middle. It's only a small thing, and most people wouldn't think much of it, but it added something to the street, was as much a feature as the buildings. Now, brand new road and paving makes the buildings look out of place to me.

Waste of a great street

[sleslie48]

Oh I got so caught up ranting that I forgot to say how good it is to see new builds built with respect for their surroundings and in the style of the streetscape, and actually inline with other buildings. It maintains the street feel. Very impressed with that, that needs to happen all over the city. Not going to save the street tho, the appartments will become student property in a few years probably.

Nothing against students, I am one, but student housing isn't kept well for obvious reasons and ends up looking really shoddy. The house I live in now Im sure could fall apart in a strong wind, we've made it pleasant enough to live in, but aren't going to do much cos we're only here for a year, and have other things to worry about.

[rottersclub]

It's a shame they cant pick up gosford street and place it in the centre, next to the cathedral somewhere i guess would be appropriate. THe council often harp on about old Coventry but this is the state of one of the most historic bits. At least they are doing something, but again they need to look at the bigger picture. It's surrounded by one of the busiest roundabouts, a huge junction, 5-6 lane roads and housing that breeds trouble and a lack of respect for, well, anything. On top of that, for anyone to get to it from the centre, they have to walk through the Cov uni Campus. No one is going to go there unless your a resident living in that area. Even when I used to walk to friends who lived near ball hill, I'd avoid it because it seemed safer to walk up next to the dual carrige way. Swanswell could have helped to save it, if jordan well and gosford street were diversified that would help too, but these things wont happen so it will never get any better.

On the one of those photos you can see some cobbles in the road that were the original road surface. I walked down there when they were doing those improvements and they had tarmac around them and a strip of cobbles left running up the middle. It's only a small thing, and most people wouldn't think much of it, but it added something to the street, was as much a feature as the buildings. Now, brand new road and paving makes the buildings look out of place to me.

Waste of a great street

15 years ago, Far Gosford Street was great - great for a pub crawl. A bit rough and ready, but nothing really dangerous - and not as horrible as it is now. I think most of the pubs have gone. Some nice restaurants now. They need to get rid of all those Pikey takeaways.

No matter what they do, it'll be a dump within a few years.

[Jags]

Hey guys just thought i would let you know that the old envy unit is now going to be another bloody mobile phone shop. That makes it at least 9 in the main precinct. This is a joke, how many phones can a population of just over 300,000 people buy.

[rottersclub]

Hey guys just thought i would let you know that the old envy unit is now going to be another bloody mobile phone shop. That makes it at least 9 in the main precinct. This is a joke, how many phones can a population of just over 300,000 people buy.

Another crap shop for Coventry. Woopee-doo.

[Dr Pepper]

I finally got round to taking some photos of this now the scaffolding has come down. The extension seems to divide people as it is such a contrast with the original 1950's theatre. I for one rather like it, the discreet darker colours with a dash of red works well. It should look really good at night with the right lighting.

http://i16.tinypic.com/6col7c5.jpg



In this shot you can see the new side entrance more clearly.

http://i7.tinypic.com/6f7eceb.jpg

[Dr Pepper]

Hey guys just thought i would let you know that the old envy unit is now going to be another bloody mobile phone shop. That makes it at least 9 in the main precinct. This is a joke, how many phones can a population of just over 300,000 people buy.

1. O2
2. vodafone
3. T-Mobile
4. Orange
5. 3
6. Carphone Warehouse
7. Phones 4U
8. The Link (Is it still there?)
9. New shop.

They are not after the 2 blokes and a dog who have no mobile phone because the big battle for phone companies is winning customers from the other networks and signing them up for an 18 month contracts. In Western Europe mobile phone companies are treated in a similar way to traditional utilities by investors.

[rottersclub]

Thanks for the photos - I think the new theatre extension is absolutely horrible. One of the most dismal buildings I've ever seen. It looks so cheap and nasty, and just doesn't fit in with the old building. The more I look at it, the worse it appears. That perspex area looks bloody atrocious.

I reckon they'll be demolishing this in ten years time.

I actually think they made a big mistake adding a smaller auditorium. What they should have done is bulldozed the theatre and built a new, larger theatre that can handle bigger touring shows. This is something that Coventry lacks.


(I like the old theatre as well, but it's too small for a lot of shows)

[Dr Pepper]

This is the old grammar school in Hales St. It's one of Coventry's oldest and most historical buildings. Currently it is owned by Holy Trinity Church so there is little chance of it being converted into some sort of bar. Whatever use it is put to it needs to happen soon.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4zu55xh.jpg


This is the Rose and Woodbine pub on Stoney Stanton Rd, opposite the new city college building. There was a fire there several months ago which left the building damaged and closed. Although the pub was rather rough the building still has a lot of the decorative detailing on the outside. I really do hope this building survives to have a new use. I don't think it has much land surrounding it so it may be of limited value to developers. They don't build them like this anymore.

http://i14.tinypic.com/5z4kzs8.jpg

[Dr Pepper]

Thanks for the photos - I think the new theatre extension is absolutely horrible. One of the most dismal buildings I've ever seen. It looks so cheap and nasty, and just doesn't fit in with the old building. The more I look at it, the worse it appears. That perspex area looks bloody atrocious.

I reckon they'll be demolishing this in ten years time.

I actually think they made a big mistake adding a smaller auditorium. What they should have done is bulldozed the theatre and built a new, larger theatre that can handle bigger touring shows. This is something that Coventry lacks.


(I like the old theatre as well, but it's too small for a lot of shows)

As I said it seems to divide opinion. I think the cubic/boxy design is a great addition to the skyline. The more I see it the more I like it. The perspex does look a bit cheap though.

I think the main theatre building is listed as it was one of the first new theatres built after the war.

[Dr Pepper]

This is where the new Bishop St development is to be built. The shacks and the building with the sign will be demolished and replaced by a mixed use building.

http://i16.tinypic.com/5ykp36w.jpg

[Jags]

This is where the new Bishop St development is to be built. The shacks and the building with the sign will be demolished and replaced by a mixed use building.

http://i16.tinypic.com/5ykp36w.jpg

Iv got this horrible feeling that this ofice development wont happen, it was just speculative to lure the QCA, now i think that Friarsgate has won that competition it wont happen.

[rottersclub]

As I said it seems to divide opinion. I think the cubic/boxy design is a great addition to the skyline. The more I see it the more I like it. The perspex does look a bit cheap though.

I think the main theatre building is listed as it was one of the first new theatres built after the war.

It was the first theatre after the war, and used to be a well reknowned producing theatre. A lot of famous actors started off doing shows at the Belgrade. Hopefully the 2nd auditorium will mean more home-grown shows.

It's not the boxiness of I don't like. It's the utter blandness of its appearance, and the fact it looks cheap and in no way attempts to fit in with the festival of Britain style of the old Belgrade. I find it quite unpleasant to look at. It looks like it'll blow away in a strong wind!

[rottersclub]

Iv got this horrible feeling that this ofice development wont happen, it was just speculative to lure the QCA, now i think that Friarsgate has won that competition it wont happen.

I read that AXA may be interested in pre-letting this development.

[jonbon88]

i love the new theater i saw it for the first time (for real) the other day. i love the fact that its different which give much need diversity to coventry's archetecture. i think even though its bland it has a sort of character all to it self.
i really do hope the AXA development go ahead and if it does not some thing else needs to happen with that piece of land to bring much need improvement to that area of the city center.
i gather the marking on the raod and paths in the pics are for the ironmonger square thing ?

[Jags]

apparently the theatre tried to go all contemporary and left the inside with bare comcrete walls, i dont think theatre should look cold, in my opinion they should should look warm and inviting. I like straight lines of the building and i like the boxiness, it would have been a good development if the whole theatre looked like that, but its just looks as if someone has stuck a gread big cardboard box onto the side of it. It just doesnt blend with the old building which idont particularly like either. They should have just knocked it down and incorporated it into the plaza development IMHO, it would have fitted in better to its surroundings and bought the regen all the way over to corporation street.

[rottersclub]

i love the new theater i saw it for the first time (for real) the other day. i love the fact that its different which give much need diversity to coventry's archetecture. i think even though its bland it has a sort of character all to it self.
i really do hope the AXA development go ahead and if it does not some thing else needs to happen with that piece of land to bring much need improvement to that area of the city center.
i gather the marking on the raod and paths in the pics are for the ironmonger square thing ?

What "different" about the theatre? It's just a box with cheap looking perspex on it and a shoppng mall style glazed entrance.

There's no effort gone into adding any sort of features or design to it?!?! I think its blandness is even more bland than the worst of the post-war stuff. At least that's brick. This looks like painted cardboard. It's got no character, no style... The old theatre is in festival of Britain style, with a wonderful glazed front that makes it seem airy and spacious inside.

[rottersclub]

apparently the theatre tried to go all contemporary and left the inside with bare comcrete walls, i dont think theatre should look cold, in my opinion they should should look warm and inviting. I like straight lines of the building and i like the boxiness, it would have been a good development if the whole theatre looked like that, but its just looks as if someone has stuck a gread big cardboard box onto the side of it. It just doesnt blend with the old building which idont particularly like either. They should have just knocked it down and incorporated it into the plaza development IMHO, it would have fitted in better to its surroundings and bought the regen all the way over to corporation street.

Funny, I thought the same - it looks like a cardboard box a kid has painted black!

Heaven knows what it'll look like in a few years time when it's weathered and polluted!

[jonbon88]

What "different" about the theatre? It's just a box with cheap looking perspex on it and a shoppng mall style glazed entrance.

There's no effort gone into adding any sort of features or design to it?!?! I think its blandness is even more bland than the worst of the post-war stuff. At least that's brick. This looks like painted cardboard. It's got no character, no style... The old theatre is in festival of Britain style, with a wonderful glazed front that makes it seem airy and spacious inside.

the building its self forms the feature which gives off a very post moder amd cosmoplitan feel to the area. i think some thing should be done to bring the older part of the theater inline with the new.
i believe when the building attched to the new extentson is demolished it should improve the sturcture even more.
any one know when this is going to happen ?

[rottersclub]

the building its self forms the feature which gives off a very post moder amd cosmoplitan feel to the area. i think some thing should be done to bring the older part of the theater inline with the new.
i believe when the building attched to the new extentson is demolished it should improve the sturcture even more.
any one know when this is going to happen ?

They could always get someone to paint the old theatre grey and black out the windows so it looks "post-modern" and "Cosmopolitan."

Quite what "post-modern" building looks like is beyond me. Black and square, perhaps? I thought post-modernism was old hat these days.

I think the extension is a big box purely because it's cheap. If they had the cash, they'd have built something like the new theatre in Leicester or the ones in Brum around Symphony hall.

Maybe I'll change my opinion of it when Belgrade Plaza is finished. I see this every morning and evening on the way to work, and it's been a crashing disappointment to see how cheap and nasty it looks. It looks better in the 2nd photo than the first.

I wonder what it'll look like after a few years of weathering?

Not sure when the other building is being demolished. I hope they finish off the theatre properly when they do demolish it, as the buildings are joined, aren't they?

Right. Enough of this. Have stories to write!

[rottersclub]

i love the new theater i saw it for the first time (for real) the other day. i love the fact that its different which give much need diversity to coventry's archetecture. i think even though its bland it has a sort of character all to it self.
i really do hope the AXA development go ahead and if it does not some thing else needs to happen with that piece of land to bring much need improvement to that area of the city center.
i gather the marking on the raod and paths in the pics are for the ironmonger square thing ?

Yeah, I hope AXA goes ahead as well.

I was just going to say that in Dr Pepper's photo of the old grammar there is so much street furniture that ruins the scene. We seem to be good at ruining places with street furniture. Cluttering up street scenes like that. It's not as if there's actually any traffic down there to warrant all those lights!

The Parade in Leamington is the same - absolutely cluttered with signs and traffic lights.

[Dr Pepper]

the building its self forms the feature which gives off a very post moder amd cosmoplitan feel to the area. i think some thing should be done to bring the older part of the theater inline with the new.
i believe when the building attched to the new extentson is demolished it should improve the sturcture even more.
any one know when this is going to happen ?


I have posted a couple of pre-development pics on the Belgrade Plaza thread one of which shows the building to be demolished.

[inspired]

Thanks for the brilliant pics Dr Pepper

[Scazmattaz]

We drove down Foleshill Road this weekend - that place needs a severe bout of redevelopment. There's a huge empty space that's all overgrown, and a motley collection of derelict looking shacks. Pretty grim all the way down to the Canal bridge.

Scazmattaz... Is Sprint still happening?

That sounds like where Paragon Park is going, or the old City Depot site which is part of the Swanswell development and will be linked to Electric Wharf and the Canal Basin.

Sprint is still happening; and i imagine you'll be quite excited when its re-released to the public!

[Scazmattaz]

Oh I got so caught up ranting that I forgot to say how good it is to see new builds built with respect for their surroundings and in the style of the streetscape, and actually inline with other buildings. It maintains the street feel. Very impressed with that, that needs to happen all over the city. Not going to save the street tho, the appartments will become student property in a few years probably.

Nothing against students, I am one, but student housing isn't kept well for obvious reasons and ends up looking really shoddy. The house I live in now Im sure could fall apart in a strong wind, we've made it pleasant enough to live in, but aren't going to do much cos we're only here for a year, and have other things to worry about.

As far as im aware the Hand and Heart is being turned into residential units, aswell as the buildings next to it which will serve as an pedestrian access to a mini-street which will have houses etc behind, and the rest of the old small building there will become flats with a retail unit underneath.

I have no information on the Gosford Hardware or Godiva Pets buildings as of yet.

[Scazmattaz]

This is the old grammar school in Hales St. It's one of Coventry's oldest and most historical buildings. Currently it is owned by Holy Trinity Church so there is little chance of it being converted into some sort of bar. Whatever use it is put to it needs to happen soon.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4zu55xh.jpg



AXA are having to consider the old Grammar School as part of their development, and are looking to refurbish it and hand it over to a charity - which i cant recall - to bring it back into use.

[Scazmattaz]

I read that AXA may be interested in pre-letting this development.

Where have you heard that Friarsgate have won QCA? :nuts:

[Scazmattaz]

Dr_Pepper - its really great that you've taken some pictures around the city. I always feel like our forum isn't very visual and its made it much more enticing and interesting to read now!

[rottersclub]

That sounds like where Paragon Park is going, or the old City Depot site which is part of the Swanswell development and will be linked to Electric Wharf and the Canal Basin.

Sprint is still happening; and i imagine you'll be quite excited when its re-released to the public!

No Paragon Park is going further up, between Foleshill and Stoney Stanton Road - opposite side of the road to the old Courtaulds Tower. It'll stretch along the canal. It's currently occupied by a scrap yard and some old remains of the courtaulds buildings!

What's so exciting about Sprint - and when is it going to be re-released?

[rottersclub]

AXA are having to consider the old Grammar School as part of their development, and are looking to refurbish it and hand it over to a charity - which i cant recall - to bring it back into use.

People have tried to do something with this building for years, but always been scuppered by the church. I believe it's on the "at danger" list.

[Scazmattaz]

Yeh, i think the best thing you could do with it is turn it into a middle-market restaurant and allow them to put a sensitive sign on the exterior.

[rottersclub]

Dr_Pepper - its really great that you've taken some pictures around the city. I always feel like our forum isn't very visual and its made it much more enticing and interesting to read now!

Seconded... I've actually got a heap of pictures I've taken of Cov, but the picture posting site I use blocks them now!

What do you use, Dr Pepper?

[rottersclub]

Yeh, i think the best thing you could do with it is turn it into a middle-market restaurant and allow them to put a sensitive sign on the exterior.

Yes, I agree... Something like Belgo. Wasted as a charity.

[Scazmattaz]

Seconded... I've actually got a heap of pictures I've taken of Cov, but the picture posting site I use blocks them now!

What do you use, Dr Pepper?

Have you tried Image Shack? It aint great [very american!] but it works.

[Dr Pepper]

Seconded... I've actually got a heap of pictures I've taken of Cov, but the picture posting site I use blocks them now!

What do you use, Dr Pepper?

Your welcome. I was recommended tinypic.com You don't have to register and it works well with this site.

I shall try and take some pictures of the Humber Rd development when I get the chance.

[rottersclub]

Your welcome. I was recommended tinypic.com You don't have to register and it works well with this site.

I shall try and take some pictures of the Humber Rd development when I get the chance.

I'm a bit too self-conscious to go around taking photos of Cov - even though I've got a DSRL and a heap of lenses..!

[jonbon88]

i think the old grammer school would be a great location for a gallery of some sort. which show cases art and desgin from coventry unis and colleges as well as show casing some work from other artists. this would show people what talent lies in coventry's popullation and add a dash of culture.

[rottersclub]

i think the old grammer school would be a great location for a gallery of some sort. which show cases art and desgin from coventry unis and colleges as well as show casing some work from other artists. this would show people what talent lies in coventry's popullation and add a dash of culture.

I think commercial use is better. It's not in a good location for a gallery, as there is no footfall around there so no passing visitors and people won't go down there to look at a load of student art. A restaurant/cafe may get custom from the tenants of the new office development and workers in the Axa building.

It's also a 700 year old building that's going to require a fair amount of maintenance and needs to be looked after.

I remember years ago someone wanted to turn it into a bierkeller! And someone else wanted to turn it into a jazz club. Its location has always gone against it.

[Dr Pepper]

It's not the boxiness of I don't like. It's the utter blandness of its appearance, and the fact it looks cheap and in no way attempts to fit in with the festival of Britain style of the old Belgrade. I find it quite unpleasant to look at. It looks like it'll blow away in a strong wind!

For me its the contrast that makes it. The Tate Modern extention and the unbuilt V&A one both contrast sharply with the original building in shape, colour and materials.

[rottersclub]

For me its the contrast that makes it. The Tate Modern extention and the unbuilt V&A one both contrast sharply with the original building in shape, colour and materials.

The difference being those two you mention are interesting and creative architecture. The Belgrade theatre extension is just a grey/black box with a cheap lump of perspex in the corner.

This extension is just typical Coventry - bland, boring, cheap and unoriginal. If they'd had to the guts or cash to do something bold and interesting, it'd suit me fine!

Although the most important thing is - will it get used. I'd love to see some more varied theatre at the Belgrade.

[jonbon88]

The difference being those two you mention are interesting and creative architecture. The Belgrade theatre extension is just a grey/black box with a cheap lump of perspex in the corner.

This extension is just typical Coventry - bland, boring, cheap and unoriginal. If they'd had to the guts or cash to do something bold and interesting, it'd suit me fine!

Although the most important thing is - will it get used. I'd love to see some more varied theatre at the Belgrade.

how is it unoriginal when there is nothing els like this around, esspecially in coventry its self ?
and i would not say its bland, its one of the few buildings that stands out, it may not be detailed and it may have a simple design, but i think the building as a hole will give feature's and detail to the area its self.

[rottersclub]

how is it unoriginal when there is nothing els like this around, esspecially in coventry its self ?
and i would not say its bland, its one of the few buildings that stands out, it may not be detailed and it may have a simple design, but i think the building as a hole will give feature's and detail to the area its self.

That there's nothing like it here or elsewhere is irrelevent.

It's unoriginal because it's just a box. It stands out because it's a big box. How can you say this is pleasant to look at? From the side, you're just overpowered by a huge blank wall of uniform colour. I've been down there, and it looks even worse close up. I was absolutely staggered at how nasty and uneven the rendering looks.

It may look OK when the area is built up, but at the moment it just looks cheap and nasty.

Have you seen the proposed buildings we're talking about? They're interesting and exciting. There's nothing remotely interesting or exciting about a big box with a cheap piece of perspect in the corner. It might look OK if they'd used proper glass, but that perspex? It looks like a 60s shopping centre.

[jonbon88]

That there's nothing like it here or elsewhere is irrelevent.

It's unoriginal because it's just a box. It stands out because it's a big box. How can you say this is pleasant to look at? From the side, you're just overpowered by a huge blank wall of uniform colour. I've been down there, and it looks even worse close up. I was absolutely staggered at how nasty and uneven the rendering looks.

It may look OK when the area is built up, but at the moment it just looks cheap and nasty.

Have you seen the proposed buildings we're talking about? They're interesting and exciting. There's nothing remotely interesting or exciting about a big box with a cheap piece of perspect in the corner. It might look OK if they'd used proper glass, but that perspex? It looks like a 60s shopping centre.


shall we just leave it down to difference of opinion and agree to disagree ?

i do hope that developments like the belgrade plaza, millenium view and victoria building get a move on with things (if they are still going ahead) , what are they playing at ?

[Jags]

That the difference of opinion is good, it shows that it is designed well, even though i dont like it and Martin doesnt like it, others do, for instance i dont like the new friars gate building one but others do. It is all down to opinion and its good that some like it and some dont, architecture is always going to to be controvercial, its like art.

But i do have to say that it is very different it would have looked ok IMO if it had better quality materials, iv seen the place close up and its bad, really bad. My dad did the electrics inside, and he said its even bad inside, but we will see what happens when it opens. If they get the refurb of the old building right it could potentially look great with the new plaza, it wont just look uniform, it will have a variety of buildings in one development and i like that.

[Jags]

shall we just leave it down to difference of opinion and agree to disagree ?

i do hope that developments like the belgrade plaza, millenium view and victoria building get a move on with things (if they are still going ahead) , what are they playing at ?

I think that they may be because they are waiting for the new city centre development managers to start their roles, it may be totally unrelated but i think the council want them to come in and review the plans again and get a feel of what is about to happen.
Millenium view i think will be scaled down because it is just not cost effective, AXA wont happen because there wont be any interest in that development from a potential occupier, and im hoping that the plaza development is going to happen soon because it is pretty much fully let in its first phase by good high street names and a quality hotel operator being the Radisson.

[Scazmattaz]

I think that they may be because they are waiting for the new city centre development managers to start their roles, it may be totally unrelated but i think the council want them to come in and review the plans again and get a feel of what is about to happen.
Millenium view i think will be scaled down because it is just not cost effective, AXA wont happen because there wont be any interest in that development from a potential occupier, and im hoping that the plaza development is going to happen soon because it is pretty much fully let in its first phase by good high street names and a quality hotel operator being the Radisson.

No-one was found for the new position. It will be re-advertised :ohno:

[rottersclub]

shall we just leave it down to difference of opinion and agree to disagree ?

i do hope that developments like the belgrade plaza, millenium view and victoria building get a move on with things (if they are still going ahead) , what are they playing at ?

Yup, just disagree. I might change my mind when the area's complete. If it ever gets completed!

[Dr Pepper]

I have uploaded some photos of the Humber Rd development on the Dominian Plaza thread. Happy viewing.

[sleslie48]

can someone post links to all the other threads about coventry, i only have the other cov developments one and ikea one. Didn't realise there were others

[sleslie48]

Do u have to be qualified for the city centre development manager position??! Cos I'll do it!

[Dr Pepper]

can someone post links to all the other threads about coventry, i only have the other cov developments one and ikea one. Didn't realise there were others

Go to the top of the page, click Projects and Construction then click Birmingham Metro Area. The Dominian Plaza, Ikea, Coventry Station Redevelopment and Belgrade Plaza threads are in there.

[Dr Pepper]

Hey guys just thought i would let you know that the old envy unit is now going to be another bloody mobile phone shop. That makes it at least 9 in the main precinct. This is a joke, how many phones can a population of just over 300,000 people buy.

In fact it's now a Carphone Warehouse. It complements their other branch in the Lower Precinct. About 200 feet away. Must be to sign up those Talk Talk customers.

I also noticed today that the Woolwich under the library has now closed as has the curtain shop opposite HMV. That will now be CEX, the 2nd hand cd/dvd/games/phone shop. Presumably their old shop in the Market/Lower Precinct link will close.

[rottersclub]

In fact it's now a Carphone Warehouse. It complements their other branch in the Lower Precinct. About 200 feet away. Must be to sign up those Talk Talk customers.

I also noticed today that the Woolwich under the library has now closed as has the curtain shop opposite HMV. That will now be CEX, the 2nd hand cd/dvd/games/phone shop. Presumably their old shop in the Market/Lower Precinct link will close.

Maybe they will close the Lower Precinct store. It is rather small. I can't imagine them having two branches so close.

The curtain shop was called Roseby's at one point.

I'm not surprised they want to move out of the Market Link. Who on earth would even go into that dump?

[jonbon88]

Maybe they will close the Lower Precinct store. It is rather small. I can't imagine them having two branches so close.

The curtain shop was called Roseby's at one point.

I'm not surprised they want to move out of the Market Link. Who on earth would even go into that dump?

im so happy that CEX are moving to bigger digs. i have been wanting that to happen for ages.
any ideas when ?

[Dr Pepper]

Maybe they will close the Lower Precinct store. It is rather small. I can't imagine them having two branches so close.

The curtain shop was called Roseby's at one point.

I'm not surprised they want to move out of the Market Link. Who on earth would even go into that dump?


The Market Link was never going to have a footfall of people with a high spending power.

[rottersclub]

The Market Link was never going to have a footfall of people with a high spending power.

Last time I was in the market, which was about 6 months ago, a lot of the stalls were empty. Those that weren't mainly appeared to be selling junk. It used to be good years back - with a big fish market (The reason we were in there, but there wasn't much there), a place selling decent coffees and cheeses... All appeared to be gone now.

[inspired]

:ohno: with a cloud hanging of the furture of jaguar, what does this mean for the proposed development around the jaguar design centre in whitley.

[rottersclub]

:ohno: with a cloud hanging of the furture of jaguar, what does this mean for the proposed development around the jaguar design centre in whitley.

It's not just Jaguar doing that - so I imagine it'll go ahead.

Whitley might be the site in the strongest position - it's the HQ & also the design and engineering centre. I'd be more worried about one of the factories closing as they have too much capacity.

[Scazmattaz]

Maybe they will close the Lower Precinct store. It is rather small. I can't imagine them having two branches so close.

The curtain shop was called Roseby's at one point.

I'm not surprised they want to move out of the Market Link. Who on earth would even go into that dump?

MartinN you're such a synic. :nuts:

I think this will be good, its the kinda shop that will work well in Coventry and give the local chav's something to do other than goto Cash Converters; plus its the kinda place more affluent people might go for a bargain, although £38 for Command and Conquer 3 when you can buy it for £24.99 off of Gameplay is a bit of a rip!

[Scazmattaz]

Last time I was in the market, which was about 6 months ago, a lot of the stalls were empty. Those that weren't mainly appeared to be selling junk. It used to be good years back - with a big fish market (The reason we were in there, but there wasn't much there), a place selling decent coffees and cheeses... All appeared to be gone now.

The rise and rise of the supermarkets might have something to do with that. There seems to be endless superstores in Coventry.

[rottersclub]

MartinN you're such a synic. :nuts:

I think this will be good, its the kinda shop that will work well in Coventry and give the local chav's something to do other than goto Cash Converters; plus its the kinda place more affluent people might go for a bargain, although £38 for Command and Conquer 3 when you can buy it for £24.99 off of Gameplay is a bit of a rip!

I always thought CEX was a rip off! Used to go into the one in Brum and just laugh at their prices.

[rottersclub]

The rise and rise of the supermarkets might have something to do with that. There seems to be endless superstores in Coventry.

I'm not sure - the Alma Deli and Kendalls seem to have survived the supermarkets, although I notice the East West Chinese grocer has closed. Shame, as we used that quite often.

I always put it down to the Market being such a shithole. People don't like to scrabble around in shit anymore.:)

[inspired]

coventry airport has been refused planning permission for a new terminal :ohno:

[rottersclub]

coventry airport has been refused planning permission for a new terminal :ohno:

disgusting - 2 years to do this. This means the alternate scenario will happen - 24 hour freight flights. It's a purely political decision. The airport also has other buildings it can use as terminal. So things may get worse for people round there.

[Scazmattaz]

The Councillors who are in power at the moment are indecisive twits, its getting on my tits!!! They are bashing anything progressive down because they are stuck in the dark ages and all they care about is their image. They need to take a fucking risk!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rottersclub]

The Councillors who are in power at the moment are indecisive twits, its getting on my tits!!! They are bashing anything progressive down because they are stuck in the dark ages and all they care about is their image. They need to take a fucking risk!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I can't stand 'em, myself - the tories have been useless so far.

[Scazmattaz]

Tories are fucking knobends, i like the local labour ones at least they say 'yeh lets try that and see how it goes'. The Labour government should have never given Coventry all this extra money for highway improvements cos the locals now think they've got it due to the Conservatives. Nimwits. [no offense intended to anyone of Coventrian origin]

On a lighter note the AXA development has been approved.

[Scazmattaz]

Binley Retail Park. Tenants likely now to include,

Halfords,
Boots,
Argos,
Woolworths,
JJB Sports [which Friargate will demolish there existing site at Central Six],
Clintons Cards,
Costa Coffee?

This is getting out of hand!

[Dr Pepper]

The Councillors who are in power at the moment are indecisive twits, its getting on my tits!!! They are bashing anything progressive down because they are stuck in the dark ages and all they care about is their image. They need to take a fucking risk!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I thinks its worth pointing out that the airport is in Warwickshire and its the county council who decided the planning decision.

[Scazmattaz]

Yes Warwickshire aren't co-operating with anything Coventry wants to do, because they would rather ignore Coventry, even though Coventry provides 10,000s of jobs to Warwick based residents.

[jonbon88]

cant coventry expand its borders to incorporate facilities which are more relevant to our interest's rather than them of warkshire or the west midlands.

i say bring bak the county of the city of coventry, lol
only jokin, its not that easy.

[rottersclub]

Tories are fucking knobends, i like the local labour ones at least they say 'yeh lets try that and see how it goes'. The Labour government should have never given Coventry all this extra money for highway improvements cos the locals now think they've got it due to the Conservatives. Nimwits. [no offense intended to anyone of Coventrian origin]

On a lighter note the AXA development has been approved.

The AXA development was approved months ago, wasn't it? I'm sure they reported it in the telegraph.

[rottersclub]

Yes Warwickshire aren't co-operating with anything Coventry wants to do, because they would rather ignore Coventry, even though Coventry provides 10,000s of jobs to Warwick based residents.

That's because people in Warwickshire are tossers. Most of my work colleagues live in Warwickshire, and they have nothing but derision for Coventry - until I remind that the city provides them with their job. They shutup then.

Coventry would be far better considered as part of Warwickshire than as part of the old "West Midlands County".

[rottersclub]

I thinks its worth pointing out that the airport is in Warwickshire and its the county council who decided the planning decision.

It wasn't. It was a government inquiry and an inspector who sent a report to the government to decide on this. The airport's only recourse is to take it to the high court.

[Dr Pepper]

It wasn't. It was a government inquiry and an inspector who sent a report to the government to decide on this. The airport's only recourse is to take it to the high court.

Either way I think the expansion of the airport would be a mistake. The only reason Thompson can provide is via a loophole in the airports operations. The passenger terminal is on the arse end of Middlemarch Business Park which can only be accessed via Tollbar roundbout. This is already highly congested before the 2 million planned passengers start using it.

I'm all for improving Coventry but there is Birmingham Int airport 20mins up the road which could far better handle increased passenger traffic as so many of the required facilities are already in place.

[rottersclub]

Either way I think the expansion of the airport would be a mistake. The only reason Thompson can provide is via a loophole in the airports operations. The passenger terminal is on the arse end of Middlemarch Business Park which can only be accessed via Tollbar roundbout. This is already highly congested before the 2 million planned passengers start using it.

I'm all for improving Coventry but there is Birmingham Int airport 20mins up the road which could far better handle increased passenger traffic as so many of the required facilities are already in place.

What loophole? Coventry Airport is an airport like any others - it's had a passenger terminal for years. The sad fact is that the airport tore down their old terminal as part of a planning agreement with Warwick DC.

This is the death knell for CVT IHMO. No development will be allowed there, now the government have set this precedent. As usual, Coventry is being shafted by the government.

[rottersclub]

I think there's a strong chance the airport will go to the high court and try to get the decision overturned.

[rottersclub]

Petition the PM to allow the new terminal at Coventry Airport!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/coventry-airport/

[Jags]

Petition the PM to allow the new terminal at Coventry Airport!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/coventry-airport/

Signed, sealed and delivered. Cant believe it was refused, this is an absolute joke, the amount of investment in the city was helped by the airport and now this could also be affected. This is mainly due to the fact that Birmingham caused such a fuss about it because they couldnt compete with the prices that airlines flying from cov were charging. BHX is also more expensive to fly from than heathrow, what a joke.

[rottersclub]

Signed, sealed and delivered. Cant believe it was refused, this is an absolute joke, the amount of investment in the city was helped by the airport and now this could also be affected. This is mainly due to the fact that Birmingham caused such a fuss about it because they couldnt compete with the prices that airlines flying from cov were charging. BHX is also more expensive to fly from than heathrow, what a joke.

Cool, pass it onto as many folk as possible.

[ccfc-4-life]

i have signed it, unbelieveable how they rejected the terminal proposal, i agree that if Coventry wants to expand and regenerate, then we need the airport to do the same, it is the gateway to the city lol. It is disgraceful how BHX have opposed the proposal because they dont want competition, its like Chelsea stopping other teams from buying better players or getting takenover by rich snobs just because it could mean that they would have to work harder!

[inspired]

ive signed it too :) . Need to get this link out to as many people as possible.

Bbc coventry and warwickshire have been doing a series of reports on the breakfast show regarding regeneration in Coventry. Today was on shopping.

Coventry council have just announced that they have employed a 'shopping guru' to oversea a masterplan to increase the variety of shops in the city centre and the shopping environment generally. Interviewing a number of Coventry citizerns all of them slated the quality/environment of the city centre.

Also this morning someone from CV1 mentioned that the new owners of West Orchards were drawing up plans to develop it - this should be quite interesting.

If anyone wants to listen to it , go to the website and listen back.

On Tuesdays piece it was stated that there is upto 8bn worth of development happening/going to happen in Coventry over the next couple of years.:banana:

[sleslie48]

Why do they need a guru? They always try and be "cool" and modern, why not just look at the area, the facts and other similar sized cities and successfull areas. That will tell you whats needed and how to do it. Maybe thats what this person is, but why call them a guru!

I'm scepacle about WO. To be honest at the moment there is the promise of it improving, I like not knowing what they intend because I'm sure it's not going to be up to scratch and Cov will then be stuck with something shoddy for another 20 years. Too negative? Possibly, it's just I can see it looking like a big tescos - the arena park style of materials. I'm bitter cos I'd prefer them to knock it down!

[Scazmattaz]

On Tuesdays piece it was stated that there is upto 8bn worth of development happening/going to happen in Coventry over the next couple of years.:banana:

Yep, more money is going into Coventry than into Liverpool which is meant to be Capital of Culture next year :lol: .

Friargate - dont ask!!! Apparently the QCA hadn't firmed any decision on where to locate.

[inspired]

Yep, more money is going into Coventry than into Liverpool which is meant to be Capital of Culture next year :lol: .

Friargate - dont ask!!! Apparently the QCA hadn't firmed any decision on where to locate.

Do you mean 'where to locate' as in the country or within the city.

Have been to leeds recently, fantastic developments goin on there. Have a look at the Clarence Docks thread in the leeds forum. The place looks really good.

[Dr Pepper]

What loophole? Coventry Airport is an airport like any others - it's had a passenger terminal for years. The sad fact is that the airport tore down their old terminal as part of a planning agreement with Warwick DC.

This is the death knell for CVT IHMO. No development will be allowed there, now the government have set this precedent. As usual, Coventry is being shafted by the government.

I was talking about how the airport was mostly a freight airport with a relatively small number of passenger services. It was allowed some night flights for the freight but Thompson bought the airport and used used this to fly much larger passenger jets than the night flight allowence was intended for. If they had gone through the normal process of applying for them they would almost certainly have been turned down.

I just don't buy the extended airport = increased regeneration argument for Coventry. Most of the large business investment in the area has been in logistics because of Coventry's geographic location. If any business has been dependent on air connections then it would have used Birmingham airport 30mins up the road. Birmingham has more routes, bigger planes and thus more dependent infrustructure which creates the jobs and attracts businesses. Coventry is a budget airport for budget, bucket and spade flights. There won't be anywhere near as many jobs created.

Then of course there is the inadequate transport infrustructure in getting to the airport. Tollbar island is a nightmare at peak hours and there is only one way in and out of Middlemarch Business Park where the terminal would be. I have to drive to that business park for work and there is no extra capcity available for more traffic.

There are also the environmental consequences of all the extra taffic created and increase in short haul flights. Lots more CO2.

I'm all for regenerating Coventry but this is mostly about increasing the profits of an opportunistic private company. No doubt these points have been debated to death on the BHX/CVT forums. And no, I don't live in Willenhall or Bagington.

[rottersclub]

I was talking about how the airport was mostly a freight airport with a relatively small number of passenger services. It was allowed some night flights for the freight but Thompson bought the airport and used used this to fly much larger passenger jets than the night flight allowence was intended for. If they had gone through the normal process of applying for them they would almost certainly have been turned down.

I just don't buy the extended airport = increased regeneration argument for Coventry. Most of the large business investment in the area has been in logistics because of Coventry's geographic location. If any business has been dependent on air connections then it would have used Birmingham airport 30mins up the road. Birmingham has more routes, bigger planes and thus more dependent infrustructure which creates the jobs and attracts businesses. Coventry is a budget airport for budget, bucket and spade flights. There won't be anywhere near as many jobs created.

Then of course there is the inadequate transport infrustructure in getting to the airport. Tollbar island is a nightmare at peak hours and there is only one way in and out of Middlemarch Business Park where the terminal would be. I have to drive to that business park for work and there is no extra capcity available for more traffic.

There are also the environmental consequences of all the extra taffic created and increase in short haul flights. Lots more CO2.

I'm all for regenerating Coventry but this is mostly about increasing the profits of an opportunistic private company. No doubt these points have been debated to death on the BHX/CVT forums. And no, I don't live in Willenhall or Bagington.

Coventry doesn't need any sort of permission to do passenger flights - it's had a terminal for 70 years, and has had passenger services before. It's also got a 24 hour license. Thomsonfly didn't do anything that wasn't allowed, and they did not exploit any loophole. They are simply utilising an airport that has been very underutilized for years. The ONLY way limits can be placed on the airport is by a section 106 agreement as part of a planning application. There is absolutely nothing dictating the size of aircraft that can land at night.

In actual fact, Thomsonfly got blamed by the boneheads in Stoneleigh for a late flight, which was later shown to be a noisy freight plane coming into land.

Tollbar end is being revamped, and the revamp is being done with airport expansion taken into account.

Since the airport started doing passenger flights, there has been significant interest in the office developments in that area, on the middlemarch business park. Also a certain percentage of the airport's passengers are business passengers.

2 million passengers is peanuts really - it's already handling 700,000 from the temporary building, which can handle a million.

The 737s Thomson use are smaller than some of the freighters that land at Coventry. In fact, the 737 aircraft was designed for smaller runways at regional airports like Coventry.

[rottersclub]

Yep, more money is going into Coventry than into Liverpool which is meant to be Capital of Culture next year :lol: .

Friargate - dont ask!!! Apparently the QCA hadn't firmed any decision on where to locate.

Is Friargate going to happen?

[rottersclub]

Do you mean 'where to locate' as in the country or within the city.

Have been to leeds recently, fantastic developments goin on there. Have a look at the Clarence Docks thread in the leeds forum. The place looks really good.

I've been going to Leeds for years - used to live 20 miles away from the place. Great City. Horrible at night though. Seems a lot more dynamic and attractive than the midland's cities.

[inspired]

I've been going to Leeds for years - used to live 20 miles away from the place. Great City. Horrible at night though. Seems a lot more dynamic and attractive than the midland's cities.

yes quite a dynamic city esp with all its current developments and those in the pipeline. Very good shopping and restaurant facilities.

Fingers crossed about Friargate....:ohno:

[rottersclub]

yes quite a dynamic city esp with all its current developments and those in the pipeline. Very good shopping and restaurant facilities.

Fingers crossed about Friargate....:ohno:

I saw a report that said the only cities outside of London experiencing growth (Non public sector growth) are Leeds, Nottingham, Cardiff & Manchester.

Could Cov ever be as "dynamic" as someone like Leeds - it's not even that huge a place, although it does run into a lot of towns.

[Dr Pepper]

Coventry doesn't need any sort of permission to do passenger flights - it's had a terminal for 70 years, and has had passenger services before. It's also got a 24 hour license. Thomsonfly didn't do anything that wasn't allowed, and they did not exploit any loophole. They are simply utilising an airport that has been very underutilized for years. The ONLY way limits can be placed on the airport is by a section 106 agreement as part of a planning application. There is absolutely nothing dictating the size of aircraft that can land at night.

Tollbar end is being revamped, and the revamp is being done with airport expansion taken into account.

Since the airport started doing passenger flights, there has been significant interest in the office developments in that area, on the middlemarch business park. Also a certain percentage of the airport's passengers are business passengers.

2 million passengers is peanuts really - it's already handling 700,000 from the temporary building, which can handle a million.

The 737s Thomson use are smaller than some of the freighters that land at Coventry. In fact, the 737 aircraft was designed for smaller runways at regional airports like Coventry.

Plans for Tollbar have been on the drawing board for years and even if the current plans go ahead it will still be many years before they are finished. Even then a good deal of the extra capacity created will soaked up by the demand that several years of increased car use creates, reguardless of the airport. There is only one entrence to Middlemarch and its a nightmare at peak times.

I have no doubt that some businesses will be attracted to be near the airport but don't forget Coventry's ecomomy is growing and is short of decent office space. Middlemarch (like the other business parks) is a cheaper and quicker place to build that nearer the centre because this is what they are for. I'm not saying that that the airport will not attract any business or create any jobs, just relatively little. The vast majority of passengers will be holiday makers flying in their cheap seats to tourist destinations. Business flyers will be a small minority.

[Scazmattaz]

Do you mean 'where to locate' as in the country or within the city.

Have been to leeds recently, fantastic developments goin on there. Have a look at the Clarence Docks thread in the leeds forum. The place looks really good.

No i was referring to within the city. They have been told to move to Coventry.

[Scazmattaz]

Is Friargate going to happen?

They've spent enough bloody money on all the pre-liminary stuff and the street-layout is being sorted at the moment. Its a bit of a mess due to the fact they dont want roads to dominant the area (i.e. nothing wider than 2 lanes on each carriageway) but they are having difficulties with certain aspects.

[Scazmattaz]

Plans for Tollbar have been on the drawing board for years and even if the current plans go ahead it will still be many years before they are finished. Even then a good deal of the extra capacity created will soaked up by the demand that several years of increased car use creates, reguardless of the airport. There is only one entrence to Middlemarch and its a nightmare at peak times.

I have no doubt that some businesses will be attracted to be near the airport but don't forget Coventry's ecomomy is growing and is short of decent office space. Middlemarch (like the other business parks) is a cheaper and quicker place to build that nearer the centre because this is what they are for. I'm not saying that that the airport will not attract any business or create any jobs, just relatively little. The vast majority of passengers will be holiday makers flying in their cheap seats to tourist destinations. Business flyers will be a small minority.

Tollbar works at the moment, yeh its busy but i usually get through on 1 cycle of the lights at peak times. The roundabout at Brandon Road / A46 is the problem; it takes forever to get out of there and id rather it had a flyover/under than Tollbar; id say it needs it more!

[rottersclub]

According to an article in the business section of today's telegraph, there's still a high demand for commercial property in Coventry and Warwickshire - the shortage of sites in Warwickshire is creating interest in Coventry.

There's certainly a lot of applications for commercial developments on the planning portal.

[Scazmattaz]

Yeah theres endless office developments still being considered at planning on out-of-town sites; we just need to haul this interest inwards!

[rottersclub]

Yeah theres endless office developments still being considered at planning on out-of-town sites; we just need to haul this interest inwards!

Hey, that block Osbourne House has office space in it! I saw it up for sale in the paper on monday.

[guyr]

Hello everyone, I found this site while looking for information on the AXA development. There is some very interesting stuff to read through!!
I wondered whether anyone had any information on what will be happening to the Budget Insurance building that is joined to AXA on Corporation Street? I have worked there for the last 9 years, and we are being kicked out by Jan 08, as AXA want the building back. We had heard rumours that the building may be demolished (:banana: ), but now apparently not?

Guy

[rottersclub]

Hello everyone, I found this site while looking for information on the AXA development. There is some very interesting stuff to read through!!
I wondered whether anyone had any information on what will be happening to the Budget Insurance building that is joined to AXA on Corporation Street? I have worked there for the last 9 years, and we are being kicked out by Jan 08, as AXA want the building back. We had heard rumours that the building may be demolished (:banana: ), but now apparently not?

Guy

Well there's a new office development planned for the area where the Indian restaurant is - so all that is going to be demolished, but not your building - and someone further up in this thread said AXA are planning to expand.

[guyr]

Thanks Martin, I keep hearing different stories about AXA, just recently that they were going to demolish the link bridge between the buildings, and just use the rear newer building. I was hoping this may mean the Corporation Street buildings would be knocked down.
Slightly off-topic but has anyone heard the music being piped into the town centre today? Awful....its seems to be stuck playing the same 3 min loop. I went to Greggs and then legged it out !! :)

[rottersclub]

Thanks Martin, I keep hearing different stories about AXA, just recently that they were going to demolish the link bridge between the buildings, and just use the rear newer building. I was hoping this may mean the Corporation Street buildings would be knocked down.
Slightly off-topic but has anyone heard the music being piped into the town centre today? Awful....its seems to be stuck playing the same 3 min loop. I went to Greggs and then legged it out !! :)


That piped music is one of the reasons I don't go into Coventry city centre much anymore. It's tacky!

[sleslie48]

It works in shopping centres, kind of, it's almost expected. Not in an outside environment tho and especially the kind they play. It does provide bizzar entertainment tho, they were playing the national anthem once!

[rottersclub]

I read today that TATA are looking at building a R&D centre at Ansty still - it's a toss up between Coventry and Italy.

Also Ericsson are considering Ansty as well - perhaps sharing facilities with TATA such as conference facilities.

However, Loughborough Uni have a site that Ericsson are considering.

[Jags]

Hey guys just came back from holiday so havent posted for a while, but did anyone see last thursdays double page butts college redevelopment feature in the cov telegraph, it was actually really good. Work should start in October on the comercial aspect and the whole thing will be phased over 4 years. Its going to have 2 multi storey car parks within the development and aparantly they have a business which could potentialy create over 500 jobs on the site already (i think scazmattaz said it was the QCA).

[Jags]

Radisson Edwardian are going to be opening in May 2009.

Radisson Edwardian Hotels to open four-star deluxe hotel in Coventry in May 2009.

Radisson Edwardian Hotels (REH) has announced that it will open a brand new, four-star deluxe property in Coventry in May 2009. It will be the city¿s first centrally-located luxury hotel in 50 years, and the company¿s second hotel outside of the London area.

Radisson Edwardian has entered into an agreement with Oakmoor Deeley Partnership to develop the hotel. The total cost for the mixed-scheme complex, including the new hotel in Coventry¿s landmark Belgrade Plaza development, is estimated at £140 million. The architect is SR Davis Architects and the interior designer is Aukett Fitzroy Robinson.

Belgrade Plaza is Coventry¿s largest and most exciting mixed-use complex, encompassing hotels, restaurants, bars, a new 30,000-square-foot casino, offices and residences. It is adjacent to the Belgrade Theatre, currently undergoing a £10 million refurbishment. A new 1,100-space car park has just opened on the site.

The 183-room Radisson Edwardian Coventry hotel will feature 121 standard rooms, 55 deluxe rooms, five junior suites and two Presidential Suites. The property will also feature a full-service restaurant, bar and luxury Health Club and Spa ¿ with a swimming pool, four treatment rooms and a fully-equipped fitness centre.

Conference and banquet facilities will encompass 13,500 square feet of space, including 10 versatile meeting rooms and one banquet/conference room (5,300 square feet).

Jasminder Singh, Founder & Chairman of REH, comments: ¿As our first venture in the Midlands, we are delighted to be opening a new hotel in Coventry. Coventry has great potential and is the ideal location to serve the region. We are working closely with Oakmoor Deeley Partnership and the Coventry City Council to ensure that the project is a tremendous success.¿

Radisson Edwardian Hotels is one of the UK¿s largest, privately owned, upscale hotel groups with more than 2,500 guest rooms and 95 meeting rooms. Included in the London group are the Radisson Edwardian at Heathrow, The Hampshire & The Pastoria (Leicester Square), The Marlborough & The Kenilworth (Bloomsbury), The Berkshire & The Sussex (Oxford Street), The Mountbatten (Covent Garden), The Grafton (Tottenham Court Road), The Vanderbilt (Kensington) and The May Fair (Mayfair). Radisson Edwardian Hotels also has a property in Manchester in the site of the historic Free Trade Hall.

[rottersclub]

A bit off topic, but FOPP has gone bust.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article2000084.ece

What is interesting - and relevant - is that it was started by a Coventry kid:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article484215.ece

I like FOPP - their range of stock catered for my tastes, with strong Jazz, Folk & back catagologues for more obscure bands - it's the only music store I actually go in and buy stuff.

It's just even less reason to bother with town/city centres - unless we see more independents popping up. Supermarkets are killing towns and cities.

[Scazmattaz]

Hey, that block Osbourne House has office space in it! I saw it up for sale in the paper on monday.

Thats where i live!!!!

[rottersclub]

Thats where i live!!!!

An odd place for offices, don't you think?

[Dr Pepper]

Though I would upload a few more pics to show the building in context with its surroundings.

Here you can see how far back the building goes.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4q3vjv6.jpg



This is how it looks next to Stoney Stanton Rd

http://i9.tinypic.com/4r088dw.jpg



Work is under way on the second building.

http://i12.tinypic.com/6d1yrk9.jpg

[sleslie48]

Im assuming the blocks of flats that are there now are there to stay, or they would have been knocked down already, anyone know for sure? The one by the canal basin looks alright now its been painted but over in hillfields theyre horrible

[rottersclub]

Im assuming the blocks of flats that are there now are there to stay, or they would have been knocked down already, anyone know for sure? The one by the canal basin looks alright now its been painted but over in hillfields theyre horrible

I think they are staying.

Thanks for the pics Dr Pepper. You're making me guilty - I just got a new wide angle lens so I really should get out there and get snapping! I'm just waiting for the weather to improve.

[Dr Pepper]

Thanks for the pics Dr Pepper. You're making me guilty - I just got a new wide angle lens so I really should get out there and get snapping! I'm just waiting for the weather to improve.

You're welcome.

[Dr Pepper]

Im assuming the blocks of flats that are there now are there to stay, or they would have been knocked down already, anyone know for sure? The one by the canal basin looks alright now its been painted but over in hillfields theyre horrible

The taller block is Pioneer House and has already been refurbished with new lighting, paintwork and a new built gated entrance and permanent concierge. The three wedge shaped blocks are due to be refurbished.

[Scazmattaz]

An odd place for offices, don't you think?

Yes i do, but the good thing is that the people in the offices get things sorted out cos there is a flat in the building which appears to have about 4 polish people living in it; and these flats are 1 or 2 beds; and a lot of the other flats are local youngsters - have no idea how they can afford the rent! - but tbh its far nicer than living in Stoke, and its pretty quiet apart from Carey's on a Saturday night which, as the Telegraph has reported a few times with Mr Carey trying to get sympathy, is a fucking joke! Its as if he has speakers outside the club blarring out bass. Its a pain in the arse!!!

Basically i have to go out every Saturday night until 3am or i wont be able to sleep atall; i usually am out but like to goto bed about 2am! :ohno:

Im also surprised that theres a couple of families with kids living in the building too; thats kinda cool.

[rottersclub]

Yes i do, but the good thing is that the people in the offices get things sorted out cos there is a flat in the building which appears to have about 4 polish people living in it; and these flats are 1 or 2 beds; and a lot of the other flats are local youngsters - have no idea how they can afford the rent! - but tbh its far nicer than living in Stoke, and its pretty quiet apart from Carey's on a Saturday night which, as the Telegraph has reported a few times with Mr Carey trying to get sympathy, is a fucking joke! Its as if he has speakers outside the club blarring out bass. Its a pain in the arse!!!

Basically i have to go out every Saturday night until 3am or i wont be able to sleep atall; i usually am out but like to goto bed about 2am! :ohno:

Im also surprised that theres a couple of families with kids living in the building too; thats kinda cool.

Hi,
No, not the office for the block, but there's actually office space for lease in the block. It's been advertised in the Coventry telegraph for the last few weeks.

I'm amazed they can afford the rent, and I'm gobsmacked a family are there - but like you say, it's pretty good that they are there.

The noise would drive me crazy. We had noisy neighbours in Stoke, and I almost went round with a piece of wood with nails in it. The wife had to grab it off me and calm me down!

[Scazmattaz]

Hi,
No, not the office for the block, but there's actually office space for lease in the block. It's been advertised in the Coventry telegraph for the last few weeks.

I'm amazed they can afford the rent, and I'm gobsmacked a family are there - but like you say, it's pretty good that they are there.

The noise would drive me crazy. We had noisy neighbours in Stoke, and I almost went round with a piece of wood with nails in it. The wife had to grab it off me and calm me down!

Yes yes i knew thats what you meant. 2 of the office units are taken by i think Shortland Horne who do administration stuff there, and i had a chat with the manager lady who was really nice and not fake like most of these estate agents.

Fact of the matter is Carey's is a fucking liability and i hope that their appeal against a sound restriction thing issued by the council doesn't succeed; if it does im gonna have to have the environmental health officers around every night they decide to go 'crazy' and hopefully that, aswell as other local complaints, will force them to reduce the bass levels.

[Dr Pepper]

We had the noise officers out with our last neighbour due to loud music and dogs barking. Have to save they were very helpful and pretty much did the job reguarding next door. The more official complaints against Carey's the greater the chances of the sound restrictions staying.

[Scazmattaz]

We had the noise officers out with our last neighbour due to loud music and dogs barking. Have to save they were very helpful and pretty much did the job reguarding next door. The more official complaints against Carey's the greater the chances of the sound restrictions staying.

Oh right, do you have problems with the place then?

[Dr Pepper]

No I live in Hillfields but official complaints will carry more weight againt Carey's.

[NG1]

Careys was there long before your apartment block or any others nearby.
I have read this board for sometime and you often discuss how poor the city's night time economy is. Careys is one of the few clubs which brings decent names to the city, perhaps not to your taste but it won best club in the midlands in 2004, which says a lot. If your buying an apartment in a city centre location surely these matters can be expected?

On another note are any of the city centre projects actually going to start?seems there is a lot of talk but very little action. I can see a lot of them never happening.

[Dr Pepper]

Well Ikea continues to rise. Belgrade Plaza is due to start any minute now. The hotel and various restaurants have already signed up. The first building in the Station/Friars Gate is also due to start soon. I believe the Butts College redevelopment is due to start next year.

[Scazmattaz]

Careys was there long before your apartment block or any others nearby.
I have read this board for sometime and you often discuss how poor the city's night time economy is. Careys is one of the few clubs which brings decent names to the city, perhaps not to your taste but it won best club in the midlands in 2004, which says a lot. If your buying an apartment in a city centre location surely these matters can be expected?

On another note are any of the city centre projects actually going to start?seems there is a lot of talk but very little action. I can see a lot of them never happening.

Hey, welcome to the forums!

I accept your point willingly and understand where you're coming from.
Correct me if im wrong but it must affect locals who live in the old parts of town aswell.

Im just surprised really cos the clubs in Brum which i went to when i was a student you just couldn't hear anything atall from outside and now it seems with Carey's you can hear practically what the people inside can hear.

[rottersclub]

Careys was there long before your apartment block or any others nearby.
I have read this board for sometime and you often discuss how poor the city's night time economy is. Careys is one of the few clubs which brings decent names to the city, perhaps not to your taste but it won best club in the midlands in 2004, which says a lot. If your buying an apartment in a city centre location surely these matters can be expected?

On another note are any of the city centre projects actually going to start?seems there is a lot of talk but very little action. I can see a lot of them never happening.

I think most of them will happen - there just seems to be some caution at the moment, but the Butts development has (So I've heard) a major employer signed up, and the Belgrade Plaza development is almost fully let.

Careys is unfortunate - perhaps the problem is the building itself is not suitably sound proofed. Until recently, no one lived at the back of it as it was all commercial properties there - now it's mainly apartments. As you say, it's the only well known club in Cov these days.

I don't think Cov (Or Britain) is really geared up to apartment living - the people in Priory Place were complaining a while back about the restaurants underneath!!!! What on Earth did they expect!

[sleslie48]

Ive only been to careys once and really enjoyed it. The other clubs in Cov are rubbish, pretty much only ikon and collessium (colli is ok sometimes). Careys provides variety that the others dont offer. To only have 3 decent (or regarded as decent) clubs is bad really. I don't remember it being stupidly loud when I went so it must be a problem with the building. It's a shame, I hope theres some kind of resolution as it must be horrible to have that amount of noise that late.

Do u live in that red and silver building? I reeeeally hate that building it looks ghastly (no offence intended). I'm sure it's good inside but why would anyone design something that nasty?!

[guyr]

I've only been into Carey's once, back when it first opened, and i thought it was a terrible building and wrong location. I thought it would never last.......but if it won an award in 2004 then it must have had something going for it. (or is it that Planet (?) had just closed). I personally prefer Dogma due to my taste in music...but thats gone a little stale lately. Oh the days of Eclipse...:nuts:

[Jags]

I saw people walking around the belgrade plaza site this morning on my way to work, and now they have closed the small street off that gives access to the theatre extention, im hoping this is going to start now.

[Scazmattaz]

Ive only been to careys once and really enjoyed it. The other clubs in Cov are rubbish, pretty much only ikon and collessium (colli is ok sometimes). Careys provides variety that the others dont offer. To only have 3 decent (or regarded as decent) clubs is bad really. I don't remember it being stupidly loud when I went so it must be a problem with the building. It's a shame, I hope theres some kind of resolution as it must be horrible to have that amount of noise that late.

Do u live in that red and silver building? I reeeeally hate that building it looks ghastly (no offence intended). I'm sure it's good inside but why would anyone design something that nasty?!

Yeh its pretty monolithic and bland; but the apartments are really big for a city centre (i.e my bedroom is the size of a conventional apartments living room) and the rent is effectively the same as i was paying in Stoke, so i cant really complain!

I just hope that the new 'smokers terrace' with its doors open at night wont make the sound problems worse. One of my mates suggested that putting speakers on a concrete block reduces the effect Bass has. I personally have no idea about that kinda thing.

I noticed The Jailhouse has now turned into The Greyhound!

[rottersclub]

Yeh its pretty monolithic and bland; but the apartments are really big for a city centre (i.e my bedroom is the size of a conventional apartments living room) and the rent is effectively the same as i was paying in Stoke, so i cant really complain!

I just hope that the new 'smokers terrace' with its doors open at night wont make the sound problems worse. One of my mates suggested that putting speakers on a concrete block reduces the effect Bass has. I personally have no idea about that kinda thing.

I noticed The Jailhouse has now turned into The Greyhound!

The Jailhouse was called the Greyhound years ago. I take it they've stopped doing music now?

I don't think putting the speakers on concrete would reduce the sound.

[rottersclub]

Ive only been to careys once and really enjoyed it. The other clubs in Cov are rubbish, pretty much only ikon and collessium (colli is ok sometimes). Careys provides variety that the others dont offer. To only have 3 decent (or regarded as decent) clubs is bad really. I don't remember it being stupidly loud when I went so it must be a problem with the building. It's a shame, I hope theres some kind of resolution as it must be horrible to have that amount of noise that late.

Do u live in that red and silver building? I reeeeally hate that building it looks ghastly (no offence intended). I'm sure it's good inside but why would anyone design something that nasty?!

It's designed like that because it's CHEAP. Coventry, as yet, does not seem important enough to warrant anything interesting.

[Scazmattaz]

It's designed like that because it's CHEAP. Coventry, as yet, does not seem important enough to warrant anything interesting.

Ahh its okay inside, the walls are over a foot thick and the flats are nicely done.

[rottersclub]

Ahh its okay inside, the walls are over a foot thick and the flats are nicely done.

Oh yes, I'm sure it is - but it looks cheap on the outside.

How's the noise from the ringroad? Or does Careys drown that out? I lived in the city centre for a year in 1989-1990 and the noise was incredible - sirens and cars all night!

[Dr Pepper]

Also, does the metal roof cause a right din when the rain is pelting down?

[rottersclub]

Is sleslie talking about a different building, Scaz? Osbourne house is the one near the end of Starley street, isn't it? I think sleslie may be talking about that one behind Careys, the one that was formerly an office block, but they added two floors to it - all silver with round windows?

[sleslie48]

Yeah im talking about the dark red and silver building, round windows, slightly nautical looking, same side of the ring road as careys, near riley's etc. I first saw it from a distance and thought, they have to knock that down soon, then got up close and it seems relatively new! Its horrible. Can't believe the jailhouse has gone, was in the middle of knowhere tho

[sleslie48]

just looked up osbourne house, i was talking about the wrong one. I dont think that looks to bad, looks more solid than some of the residential blocks and hasn't tried to look too fancy, it is what it is, looks nice! Yeah interested to know how much u can hear the ring road tho

[rottersclub]

Yeah im talking about the dark red and silver building, round windows, slightly nautical looking, same side of the ring road as careys, near riley's etc. I first saw it from a distance and thought, they have to knock that down soon, then got up close and it seems relatively new! Its horrible. Can't believe the jailhouse has gone, was in the middle of knowhere tho

That building used to be an office - they stripped it down to the concrete shell and reclad it. I think it looks OK, a bit different... Not great though.

Osbourne house is just a bog standard apartment block - some OK flashes of colour down it, but that's about it...

[Scazmattaz]

Sports World's lease in West Orchards is now up for disposal due to relocation. Are we finally gonna see them move to Woolworths basement?

That JJB in town is awful, well infact most JJBs are!

[rottersclub]

Sports World's lease in West Orchards is now up for disposal due to relocation. Are we finally gonna see them move to Woolworths basement?

That JJB in town is awful, well infact most JJBs are!

Someone had better tell Woolworth's - they were still using the basement a few weeks ago!

[sleslie48]

Eugh woolworths is horrible, I went into the one in my home town on the south coast yesterday and it wasn't that bad (still woolworths), the one in Coventry seems to just try and be as depressing, tacky and miserable as possible! The same can be said for sports world tho, so maybe they'll go well together. Id rather knock half the building down, it's huge, they wouldn't miss half!

I don't mind JJB, but theres 2 large stores within ten minutes of each other, it's silly. The one in town would be one of the first buildings I would knock down. If they build a shopping centre on barracks I'd like to see it demolished and the main entrance to the shopping centre placed there, it's perfect!

[Jags]

Midland & City wins Coventry relocation
29.06.07

Government education body chooses campus site for Lyons move

By Laura Chesters

Midland & City Developments has won a battle with three rivals for a government office relocation in Coventry.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority shortlisted three schemes last year, but has selected Midland & City’s scheme at the City College campus even though it was not on the shortlist.

Midland & City has beaten the £23m scheme at Chapel Street and Bishop Street on the north side of the city centre by AXA Real Estate Investment Managers with Stoford Developments; Oakmoor Deeley’s £100m Belgrade Plaza scheme on the west side of the city centre; and Cannon Kirk’s 200,000 sq ft Park Court scheme.

The office requirement was the result of the 2004 Lyons report on civil service relocation to the regions.

The authority will move up to 600 jobs to Coventry from its headquarters on London’s Piccadilly and will occupy around 70,000 sq ft.

The authority was one of several government bodies criticised for paying top prices for space in the capital. It is thought to be paying more than £40/sq ft on Piccadilly.


Midland & City owns a site on The Butts in the centre of Coventry that houses the City College. The site will be redeveloped for the authority, but a 1930s building on the site will be refurbished and retained as part of the scheme.

The authority’s choice of Coventry last year was a coup for the city, which beat rivals Birmingham, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The council could not comment on the chosen site in Coventry because it has to be ratified by the Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce.

However, Kevin Foster, cabinet member for city development, said: ‘The authority’s decision to bring 550 jobs to Coventry is one of the first government relocations out of London and shows how our city is changing.’

Several schemes are set to transform Coventry, including Ikea, which is to open its first multistorey city centre store in the city, and schemes such as Belgrade Plaza and the Coventry Arena.

The authority plans a phased move from its 80,000 sq ft London headquarters at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

No one from Midland & City was available for comment.



Im actually really shocked that the MCD has won the race for this relocation, i thought Friargate would have been a sure bet and it would have been better placed for the QCA because of the rail station (actually it isnt that far from the station is it). Anyway it is a great development and shows that the regenerativeeffect is happing inside the ringroad and just outside it aswell, this IMO is fantastic because developments are starting to break the collar of the ring road. But my concern now is, is whether Friargate will still happen? I am concerned because there is going to be a lot of space which mught be dificult to fill. They will need a major private business relocation to get other potential occupiers interested in the site.

[Scazmattaz]

Eugh woolworths is horrible, I went into the one in my home town on the south coast yesterday and it wasn't that bad (still woolworths), the one in Coventry seems to just try and be as depressing, tacky and miserable as possible! The same can be said for sports world tho, so maybe they'll go well together. Id rather knock half the building down, it's huge, they wouldn't miss half!

I don't mind JJB, but theres 2 large stores within ten minutes of each other, it's silly. The one in town would be one of the first buildings I would knock down. If they build a shopping centre on barracks I'd like to see it demolished and the main entrance to the shopping centre placed there, it's perfect!

The one in Bedford has been completely gutted and turned into a Woolworths 'Kids and Mothers Store' - i have no idea why cos theres a huge Mothercare on the edge of town already, and an ADAMS, a Toys r Us, Toymaster and some independants so they've got a lot of competition for only 100,000 people, most of which wont be in their target demographic group!

[Jags]

Im hoping that the area around woolworths and the market gets knocked down and redeveloped, its just disgusting, its by far the worst area iv sen in any city. Is it and the barracks carpark owned by Morley?

[Scazmattaz]

Im hoping that the area around woolworths and the market gets knocked down and redeveloped, its just disgusting, its by far the worst area iv sen in any city. Is it and the barracks carpark owned by Morley?

The shops are, but Barracks isn't, but the council are willing to hand it over, quite literally! Its barely worth anything.

[sleslie48]

Are morley the people who just bought west orchards? I herd somewhere theres basically just 2 companies that own most of the city centre, or are trying to get it to that stage

[sleslie48]

The area by woolworths will always be bad as long as Coventry Point (I think it's tower A) sticks into the middle of the street. Such bad planning it's unbelievable! Knock it down and diversify! I might run for office with that as my slogan!

[Scazmattaz]

The area by woolworths will always be bad as long as Coventry Point (I think it's tower A) sticks into the middle of the street. Such bad planning it's unbelievable! Knock it down and diversify! I might run for office with that as my slogan!

Yeh its got a lot of office space (i recon around 300 - 350,000 sq.ft) and there'd need to be some big office developments (such as Frairgate) before anything like considering demolishing Cov Point could occur as its effectively full lol; which might sound surprising!

[Jags]

The shops are, but Barracks isn't, but the council are willing to hand it over, quite literally! Its barely worth anything.

Have you heard anything about the new city centre masterplan yet? or hasnt it even started yet? Its Modus, Morley and the council that are completing the plan right?

[sleslie48]

Im scared of this masterplan thing should be great but I can see it just being bad. Then again it'll prob just get a lot of hype then never really happen. Although cos it's not just purely a council thing it should do better than the swanswell effort.

I'm at home at the moment which is an elderly town of Bexhill on Sea in Sussex. Hasting is 10 minutes away and my sister lives there. Went over the other day for the evening. It's really good. It used to have a reputation of being bad but it's really turning round. There were lot's of bars and pubs, a good mix of traditional old style pubs and modern bars and a good atmosphere. Theres new restraunts and stuff opening all the time. It made me realise how exceedingly bad Coventry is especially in the evening.

One thing that I think has worked well for hastings has been a distinction between the old and new town, but they're linked well, flowing from one to the other. It's a shame there isn't just a little more of "old coventry" left around the cathedral, a few streets except for just Hay lane.

[Scazmattaz]

If they do it in urban blocks similar to the new development in Portsmouth where the Tricorn (i miss you!) used to be then thats good, i dont want it to be some kinda monolithic shopping centre. Theres enough of those in the country!

[Jags]

Meanwhile CIREF, the property investment and development company, has acquired a 40 per cent shareholding in the West Orchards Shopping Centre, Coventry.


The Centre, which covers around 210,000 sq ft, is anchored by a 100,000 sq ft Debenhams department store. Other national multiples include Marks & Spencer, Miss Selfridge, WH Smith, Coffee Republic and Peacocks.


The deal involved a total purchase price of around £68 million.


The Centre has a strong tenant mix and benefits from the city's busiest multi-storey car park, which has 651 spaces over three floors.


Ciref has undertaken the investment in partnership with Modus Properties, which has plans to revitalise the Centre.



Could be good because it means more private financial clout behind the project, but could potentially be bad because it could also lead to a delay in the project if all parties do not agree.

[Jags]

http://www.ciref.je/news/westorchards.pdf

Just a slightly more detailed announcement.

[Scazmattaz]

Cheers dude! Keep finding the good stuff!

[Dr Pepper]

Just curious....

Is anyone on this thread actually from Coventry? Many of us seem to have arrived here from elsewhere, in my case from Buckhurst Hill in Essex.

[Scazmattaz]

I was just looking at the 'Birmingham seeks architect' forum in the Birmingham section and went to look at the Gallan link and this is what i found aswell:

Coventry

Gallan are currently working in partnership to secure this prime 2-acre city centre site where there are advanced discussions with the local Planning Authority for 200,000 sq.ft Mixed Use scheme, which will comprise residential, hotel, retail and offices. A Planning Application is due to be submitted shortly.

Anyone know if this is just seriously out of date and relates to Park Court or if its something else?

[Scazmattaz]

Just curious....

Is anyone on this thread actually from Coventry? Many of us seem to have arrived here from elsewhere, in my case from Buckhurst Hill in Essex.

Im from Bedfordshire down south. It does seem that Coventry is very 'mixed up'.

[Dr Pepper]

Im from Bedfordshire down south. It does seem that Coventry is very 'mixed up'.

Small world, my wife is from Wootton just outside Bedford.

[Scazmattaz]

Ahhh Wootton yeh just off the 421. I like Bedfordshire, people are polite, the pace of life is much more relaxed and respectful, and people strive to be as middle class as possible (in a good way), the Midlands is totally different!

I lived and was bought up in Flitwick.

[rottersclub]

Just curious....

Is anyone on this thread actually from Coventry? Many of us seem to have arrived here from elsewhere, in my case from Buckhurst Hill in Essex.

No, I'm not from Coventry. I'm from up north (Near Burnley), but was born in Surrey.

I've lived here 10 years now (Almost) and hardly know any local "born and bred" Coventrians.

Cov grew mainly due to migration for the car industry in the 20th century - not a lot of Cov folk have historical links with the city - and this was the reason in the 1930s there was little interest in keeping the old city - the "old Coventrians" from the days when the city was a town of 50,000 people were overwhelmed by outsiders who didn't care much for it and just wanted facilities - hence the destruction of places like Butcher's Row/Ironmonger's Row.

[SoundMan]

I am from Coventry, but at uni up north in yorkshire at the moment. I didnt really think much of Cov untill I went to uni. Its so much easier living in Cov and I think the people here are more willing to help, compare to yorkshire.

But that is what I think...

[jonbon88]

I am from Coventry, but at uni up north in yorkshire at the moment. I didnt really think much of Cov untill I went to uni. Its so much easier living in Cov and I think the people here are more willing to help, compare to yorkshire.

But that is what I think...

i feel the same way,
i was born in coventry and i moved away for uni to and i cant wait to come bak to cov at the end. that may sound sad, but i went to london last weekend and as much as i like it i just wanted to come home.
i really dont think we appreciate coventry anough, covs got alot going for it and its about time we make the most of what we have
and celabrate what we have to come in the future :banana:

[BobbyB]

Born in Cov of Irish and Welsh parents!!!!!!
Product of Coventry when it was a boom town in fifties and sixties..
Moved abroad to South Africa when i was a youngster for a couple of years.
Lived and worked in Nottinghamshire during late nineties.
So i suppose i am a Coventrian..and proud of it (For all it,s faults!!). :carrot: :carrot:

[rottersclub]

I am from Coventry, but at uni up north in yorkshire at the moment. I didnt really think much of Cov untill I went to uni. Its so much easier living in Cov and I think the people here are more willing to help, compare to yorkshire.

But that is what I think...

I've been up North this weekend and prior to that in the Lake District fora week. Couldn't wait to get back to Cov - the North has this self-perpetuating myth that everyone is friendly and down to Earth - it's complete bollocks. Places like Leeds and Manchester may be great (Actually, I think Leeds is horrible at night - too many drunken idiots fighting and causing trouble, and heaps of awful chain bars), but the rest of the north is bloody horrible - grim, old mill towns clustered around damp valleys... Ugh. Everywhere seems very run down and depressing. We stayed near a town called Carnforth that was horrible, and where my family live is getting more run down and more depressing year by year. It's also horrendously racist.

I grew up "oop North" and couldn't wait to get away, to be perfectly honest! As soon as I finished my A levels I didn't even consider any Uni north of the Midlands.

[rottersclub]

Born in Cov of Irish and Welsh parents!!!!!!
Product of Coventry when it was a boom town in fifties and sixties..
Moved abroad to South Africa when i was a youngster for a couple of years.
Lived and worked in Nottinghamshire during late nineties.
So i suppose i am a Coventrian..and proud of it (For all it,s faults!!). :carrot: :carrot:

Yeah, I think you're typical of a lot of people in Cov these days - mixed heritage. A lot of Welsh and Irish came to Cov when it was a boom town.

I've got a paper somewhere that has the figures for the migrants - lots from the Commonwealth, for example. There was once a "lancashire" contingent in Cov - the market even had a "Tripe" stall (Until a few years back) to cater for them, but they've pretty much died out now, or just lost the traditions they brought with them.

Foleshill was at one point called "Little Italy" due to the Italian workers that came to work at Courtaulds. A lot of the watchmakers were from elsewhere as well.

[ccfc-4-life]

Foleshill was at one point called "Little Italy" due to the Italian workers that came to work at Courtaulds. A lot of the watchmakers were from elsewhere as well.

Yeah, now it is called "Little India" :lol:

i am from coventry, lived here for 30 years plus in other places across the country. I really do love this city, no matter how much people slag coventry off on these forums and moan and moan till midnight about how coventry isnt as good as other places. But the fact is, i wouldn't pick anywhere else to live, i wouldnt change coventry for the world!:banana:

I LOVE THIS CITY!!!:cheers:

[NG1]

Im born and bred here, from Irish and Polish parents. Im proud of how multicultural the city is.Most people recognise that the majority of people living in Coventry aren't of English decent. Overall it isnt that bad, however ive recently been living in Nottingham and the city is far behind it in terms of entertainment and shopping, i thinks its due to Nottingham being capital of the East midlands and having little competition, however it shows.

Talking of people moving away a lot of Coventrians/midlanders have moved to Milton Keynes. so the traffic is two way, the population of the city has only recently stopped falling

[rottersclub]

Yeah, now it is called "Little India" :lol:

i am from coventry, lived here for 30 years plus in other places across the country. I really do love this city, no matter how much people slag coventry off on these forums and moan and moan till midnight about how coventry isnt as good as other places. But the fact is, i wouldn't pick anywhere else to live, i wouldnt change coventry for the world!:banana:

I LOVE THIS CITY!!!:cheers:

I think a lot of people have a love/hate thing with Cov. Sometimes, if feels OK - nice summer day, a wander around the cathedral, a visit to a couple of the better pubs and some food in Priory place - wonderful.

Other times I go into the city centre and just wait to get out... It feels so miserable and depressing. Not just the buildings. The lack of something else... Hard to put my finger on, but it just feels like a place that's waiting to find its place in the world again or on the verge of dying.

Some good developments coming though, but I think the key is being able to get the new jobs, and getting the people who come for those jobs to stay and make the place their home.

Someone I once worked with (A Coventrian) said years ago that she thought Coventry had no heart. I hope with Friargate, Belgrade, Butts, Ikea, and the other stuff the city begins to feel a bit more dynamic and "somewhere" rather than a glorified car park and ringroad.

[Dr Pepper]

Its good to hear some genuine affection for Coventry from some of the natives. For all its faults I really do like the place and would be sad if I ever had to leave.

By the way, I have finally managed to get the pictures to load on the Swanswell Initiative thread.

[Dr Pepper]

This one is really starting to rise now.

http://i13.tinypic.com/5zp46sm.jpg

[rottersclub]

I hope the extension "encloses" the Cathedral Square - and makes it more like a square rather than a bleak area of windswept paving. It's a shame they can't develop the area into something more than just a University Campus. I reckon Cov Uni should be the next to go... It's such a grim collection of buildings!

[Dr Pepper]

I have no doubt to University would like to develop that bit of campus as well. Those buildings are not suited to their current needs, even when I was there we were having group tutorials in computer rooms. The thing that is probably holding this back is the lack of 'working space' to use whilst reconstruction can take place. Maybe once the uni can redevelop the Gulson Rd hospital site with new buildings they can to do this.

[Dr Pepper]

I hope the extension "encloses" the Cathedral Square - and makes it more like a square rather than a bleak area of windswept paving. It's a shame they can't develop the area into something more than just a University Campus. I reckon Cov Uni should be the next to go... It's such a grim collection of buildings!

Well the Herbert should look like this when its finished. It should give the square another side.

http://i14.tinypic.com/4pysxuu.gif

[Scazmattaz]

I hope the extension "encloses" the Cathedral Square - and makes it more like a square rather than a bleak area of windswept paving. It's a shame they can't develop the area into something more than just a University Campus. I reckon Cov Uni should be the next to go... It's such a grim collection of buildings!

The area between the Herbert Extension and the workshops / silver uni building (which is a carpark at the mo) has had planning permission approved for a further university building, i think i remember it was about 4/5 stories which will then fully enclose 2 sides of the square.

[Scazmattaz]

This one is really starting to rise now.

http://i13.tinypic.com/5zp46sm.jpg

Thats looking awesome! I cant really see from where i work but you can see the crane working overtime.

[Jags]

Yea the gallery development looks really good, i love the giant wave.

Just a few bits of news, CEX are fitting out their new store opposite hmv this should be open soon by the looks of it.

Halifax hoardings have gone up in the old burger king unit by woolworths.

I also saw some heavy machinery moving into town this morning but dont know where it was going.

Scaffolding has been erected outside all of the old theatre aswell for the refurb.

Peacocks wont be taking the gap unit as i thought but the old sports store by tk maxx as it is empty.

The aston court hotel has been bought and will be refurbed inside and out.

There was something else but its totally slipped my mind.

[Dr Pepper]

Big plans are afoot by Warwick Uni to expand its campus by 40% - equal to 171,000 sq m to cater for an extra 4000 staff and students.

How much Development is needed?

The need for flexibility in responding to the competing demands and needs across the full range of University activities – research, teaching and commercial, as well as the appropriate levels of residential accommodation and support facilities – means that over the next ten years Warwick must make full use of the campus, as originally defined in 1965.

Based on its vision and overall project objectives, a series of ‘targets’ were determined by the University Buildings Committee and in turn endorsed by the Council of the University. Essentially, over the 10 year period of the Masterplan (2008-18), these can be summarised as:

* doubling of research activity
* a modest increase in student numbers, principally postgraduates
* expansion of ‘third leg’ and commercial activities
* a proportional growth in support facilities

Two key ideas underpin the Masterplan: the first is to reinforce the main routes formed by previous development plans, in particular the main two axes (University Road and Library Road), extending them to unite the four campus areas. The second is to extend the existing network of nodes, or centres of activity, to promote a lively academic and social character across the estate.

In the first 5 year phase of development, a number of known projects are likely to come forward including:

* relocation of the Estates Office to a site close to University House
* development of an indoor tennis centre at Westwood
* further phases of the Business School, the Medical School and Mathematics & Statistics
* the completion of Academic Square with a new Digital Laboratory
* a new Olympic sized swimming pool
* a new social facility to serve existing residences on Central Campus West.

At least 2000 additional student bedrooms are planned on campus but further accommodation will be required off-campus to meet the expected demand. Staff housing is also likely to be built on campus.

An indicative Masterplan shows how this development might look, but as no buildings are being designed at this stage, the planning application includes a “parameters plan” which sets out the scale of new development within each of a series of zones, providing maximum building heights and car parking provision levels.


This is the area to be expanded as it is now.

http://i7.tinypic.com/5zpcncl.jpg




And this is how it could look.

http://i9.tinypic.com/52yzjaq.jpg

[Scazmattaz]

That looks good, finally Coventry is gonna start encrotching and gorging on Kenilworth, def the way forward!

Additionally; apparently the University need SPRINT for their travel plan, so Sprint in one form or another will have to happen!

[SoundMan]

Will this make it one of the biggest uni+campus in the UK. As its pretty big as it is at the moment.

[jonbon88]

modus have now brought the west orchards shopping center and say they are dedicated to improving and expanding over the next two year.
also the council said they would be working with modus to help improve both the upper precinct and corporation street

[rottersclub]

Found this document on the council's website - basically a summary of everything going on, citywide - includes Paragon Park, and all the other business parks, and also more details about Swanswell. It looks like it's going to be mainly offices & retail in a lot of Swanswell.

Anyway, it looks quite impressive.

www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=16338465

[Scazmattaz]

Notice how the designated retail development areas are Hertford Street / Barracks and Smithford Way / Allied Carpets, which is exactly what we were hoping / expecting.

[rottersclub]

Notice how the designated retail development areas are Hertford Street / Barracks and Smithford Way / Allied Carpets, which is exactly what we were hoping / expecting.

Went into town today for the first time in a while. ABSOLUTE CHAOS at the Butts junction of the ringroad - traffic queuing from the car park right round the ringroad. Even busier getting into West Orchards. We did the sensible thing and parked in the almost empty Belgrade Plaza car park - very smart, with the glass lifts and reception area. WHy, why, oh why do people queue for West Orchards when there's a huge empty car park sitting there?!?!?!?!!?!?

Pretty much went straight to Pizza Express on Hay Lane for lunch - forgot what a great building that is, especially upstairs. Walked through priory place. Lovely sight of STINKING bins outside Nandos and the smell as you walk into priory place. Place was dead and depressing, with chewing gum everywhere...

Corporation Street - the area you mention - is grim as hell, really grim. It'll look very urban when BP is built. I hope Allied Carpets/What Everyone Wants is demolished.

Still, have high hopes that Corporation Street -> Station may be a busy thoroughfare in the future. At the moment it's dead.

Notice the new CEX shop, but didn't go in - looks expensive for 2nd hand gear. Was amazed to be able to get a Bonzo Dog Band remaster in HMV for a FIVER...!

Virgin was odd - upstairs the whole CD specialist section (Jazz, Folk, Classical) was closed off and they were pulling all the CDs from the shelves. A poster claimed it was a reorganisation. I've noticed over the last year that Virgin aren't restocking certain areas, and when I've been asked "did you find what you've wanted" I've commented about 3 times that the folk section is empty...

[rottersclub]

That looks good, finally Coventry is gonna start encrotching and gorging on Kenilworth, def the way forward!

Additionally; apparently the University need SPRINT for their travel plan, so Sprint in one form or another will have to happen!

Kenilworth's a suburb of Coventry anyway - and it's a decent place for a drink and eat as well. The old square is dead nice. Close to me as well... good public transport links!

[jonbon88]

i believe that area around the Belgrade is one of the councils main priorities to develop along with help from modus.
i do think it just a matter of time till we see what everyone what’s and allied demolished. if this area is done right it could open up endless developments opportunities for corporation street, i do think it is rather under used same as little park street and new union street these could act as great city streets.

[rottersclub]

Im born and bred here, from Irish and Polish parents. Im proud of how multicultural the city is.Most people recognise that the majority of people living in Coventry aren't of English decent. Overall it isnt that bad, however ive recently been living in Nottingham and the city is far behind it in terms of entertainment and shopping, i thinks its due to Nottingham being capital of the East midlands and having little competition, however it shows.

Talking of people moving away a lot of Coventrians/midlanders have moved to Milton Keynes. so the traffic is two way, the population of the city has only recently stopped falling

I think you'll find the majority of the population of Cov are of English descent, with a large chunk being of Irish descent and then Indian.

I agree, Coventry is far behind Nottingham for some things. However, I think Scazzmatazz made the point some time back that while Coventry has pretty much a economic region around it that takes in much of Warwickshire, the county is made up of popular towns in their own right, and while the city is the overall major provider of jobs for the region, it's not yet become the major provider of shopping and entertainment.

People used to go to where the jobs are - people moved in their droves to live around the car factories. Nowadays, folk commute more, and Coventry missed out on the technological industries and stagnated somewhat in the 80s and 90s.

[rottersclub]

i believe that area around the Belgrade is one of the councils main priorities to develop along with help from modus.
i do think it just a matter of time till we see what everyone what’s and allied demolished. if this area is done right it could open up endless developments opportunities for corporation street, i do think it is rather under used same as little park street and new union street these could act as great city streets.

I hope they take out that horrible covered area outside West Orchards - it just looks cheap. When will they realise that sticking on bits of metal just doesn't work!

The precinct is looking really tatty.

[jonbon88]

I hope they take out that horrible covered area outside West Orchards - it just looks cheap. When will they realise that sticking on bits of metal just doesn't work!

The precinct is looking really tatty.

I rather like the precinct
however it doesn’t accommodate for enough shops considering how much space it takes up.
I think modus have plans for the upper precinct as well as west orchards so that’s good.
what I would love to see the most is more of old Coventry such as hay lane.
i know it would not be original and would have to be a reconstruction but i think it would have a good tourist value.
i went to leek a few weeks back and there was a similar development which had just been finished. they had managed to make it look really authentic and it had a great atmosphere. I think the area around fords hospital would be a great location for some thing like this with shops, cafés and bars . This could then also help to connect the city centre together more.

[jonbon88]

sorry i sort of let my imagination run wild then

[Scazmattaz]

I think you'll find the majority of the population of Cov are of English descent, with a large chunk being of Irish descent and then Indian.

I agree, Coventry is far behind Nottingham for some things. However, I think Scazzmatazz made the point some time back that while Coventry has pretty much a economic region around it that takes in much of Warwickshire, the county is made up of popular towns in their own right, and while the city is the overall major provider of jobs for the region, it's not yet become the major provider of shopping and entertainment.

People used to go to where the jobs are - people moved in their droves to live around the car factories. Nowadays, folk commute more, and Coventry missed out on the technological industries and stagnated somewhat in the 80s and 90s.

Yeah Coventry is best positioned in the region to regain the top spot for pretty much everything, cos its got that immediate population (and such a huge number of people in a tiny area) just outside the ring road. It will proper are some point in time.

[Jonny Gee]

The steel framework has risen quickly on Phase 2 of City College..

http://www.robotham.co.uk/Site_Themes/default/thumbnail/000004.jpg
Small pic sorry!

[rottersclub]

I rather like the precinct
however it doesn’t accommodate for enough shops considering how much space it takes up.
I think modus have plans for the upper precinct as well as west orchards so that’s good.
what I would love to see the most is more of old Coventry such as hay lane.
i know it would not be original and would have to be a reconstruction but i think it would have a good tourist value.
i went to leek a few weeks back and there was a similar development which had just been finished. they had managed to make it look really authentic and it had a great atmosphere. I think the area around fords hospital would be a great location for some thing like this with shops, cafés and bars . This could then also help to connect the city centre together more.

I don't mind some of it, but they really have ruined what was very much a period piece and "blandified" it. Some of it's dreadful and cheap - where Bewise used to be is horrible...

If such a word exists! The ramp (Added later) and the elevator (Added later) and all the other cheap additions have been kept and the period artwork has all gone (Most of it missing).

Donald Gibson's initial plan for Coventry had places like Ford's hospital turned into features... I think one map of his plan has Ford's hospital as part of a square. Of course, part of his plan involved the wholesale demolition of all the city's streetplan, much of the surviving medieval city and anything else in his way!

Yeah, Hay Lane, Greyfriar's Spire, the High Street (A horrible mess now) and the other old bits could really be utilised more.

[jonbon88]

well i cant wait to see the city centre master plan that the council are meant to be putting together.
as well as what ever plans modus have for west orchards.
however i hope what they are planning is not just a temporary fix and it something that’s a little ambitious, to help put Coventry firmly back on the map.

[rottersclub]

well i cant wait to see the city centre master plan that the council are meant to be putting together.
as well as what ever plans modus have for west orchards.
however i hope what they are planning is not just a temporary fix and it something that’s a little ambitious, to help put Coventry firmly back on the map.

I hope it's

a) more "street" based than covered precincts.
b) varied so it doesn't present a bland townscape
c) fairly adaptable - i.e. not geared towards any particular store/use, but flexible - a bit like the way old Victorian factories/mills can be converted into all manner of things.
d) Nice looking - good quality materials that weather well.
e) Not as ugly as Ikea.

I suspect it'll be a huge indoor covered mall.:)

[rottersclub]

Yeah Coventry is best positioned in the region to regain the top spot for pretty much everything, cos its got that immediate population (and such a huge number of people in a tiny area) just outside the ring road. It will proper are some point in time.

"It will proper are some point in time." - eh?

[jonbon88]

any ideas when the city center master plan is meant to be finished ?

[Scazmattaz]

"It will proper are some point in time." - eh?

Lol soz, i think i meant it will become the proper centre at some point in time for sure.

Looks like CHOICES UK is in trouble, all of their store leases are up for disposal - dont buy ANYTHING from them till its clear whats happening!

[Scazmattaz]

The steel framework has risen quickly on Phase 2 of City College..

http://www.robotham.co.uk/Site_Themes/default/thumbnail/000004.jpg
Small pic sorry!

Woo! Can anyone get any pics of it? I wanna see the Butts development rise!

[Scazmattaz]

I hope it's

a) more "street" based than covered precincts.
b) varied so it doesn't present a bland townscape
c) fairly adaptable - i.e. not geared towards any particular store/use, but flexible - a bit like the way old Victorian factories/mills can be converted into all manner of things.
d) Nice looking - good quality materials that weather well.
e) Not as ugly as Ikea.

I suspect it'll be a huge indoor covered mall.:)

It'll most probs be a covered mall; extension of West Orchards which has a proper ground level entrance with the precint and maybe 2 floors of retail with escalators etc... you'd have to remove that Bon Marche shack downstairs and move all of the stores out of the link, plus maybe restructure the existing units at the link entrance. Then you can have a mini 'Meadowhall-esk' arcade.

[Dr Pepper]

Woo! Can anyone get any pics of it? I wanna see the Butts development rise!

I'll try and take some pictures this week, weather permitting.

[rottersclub]

Lol soz, i think i meant it will become the proper centre at some point in time for sure.

Looks like CHOICES UK is in trouble, all of their store leases are up for disposal - dont buy ANYTHING from them till its clear whats happening!

I've never heard of CHOICES UK. What are they?

[Scazmattaz]

I've never heard of CHOICES UK. What are they?

They do DVD / Games / Music, similarly to MVC, FOPP and Music Zone lol. They used to be really cheap online, bought a few things off of them and they have a store in Leamington.

[rottersclub]

They do DVD / Games / Music, similarly to MVC, FOPP and Music Zone lol. They used to be really cheap online, bought a few things off of them and they have a store in Leamington.

Is that in Leamington town centre? Never seen it and we go to Leaminton fairly regularly!

[Scazmattaz]

Yeh its in the town centre!

[rottersclub]

Yeh its in the town centre!

Clarenden Street. Odd, we park and walk down there whenever we go into Leamington, but I've never ever seen it!!!

[Jonny Gee]

Woo! Can anyone get any pics of it?

There's a webcam..

http://www.covcollege.ac.uk/home/camera.php

[Jags]

Five pilot schemes to help local authorities make money from their assets could lever in around £100m each, English Partnerships revealed this week.

The investment vehicles being examined in Manchester, Sunderland, Birmingham, Carlisle and Coventry are set to be the first in a series of similar projects to help councils develop their unused land or use their rental income to draw in extra investment.

John Walker, the agency’s acting chief executive, said the schemes could attract around £50m to £100m each from institutional investors like pension funds keen to find long-term property investments.

He added there was potential for more to be raised in the future if several of the vehicles were brought together in one portfolio.

‘We could put these together in a portfolio and bring in an institution that could fund the lot. Then we get the benefit of economies of scale. A bigger package could attract more interest and a better deal. But we are some way off that.’ The first of the vehicles could be running by next March.

[SoundMan]

Whats going on with West Orchards? So are the new owners going to build new part to the mall? Sorry for this question have not kept up to date resently with things.

cheers

[rottersclub]

Whats going on with West Orchards? So are the new owners going to build new part to the mall? Sorry for this question have not kept up to date resently with things.

cheers

No one really knows, but they're working on a master plan with another developer who owns some of the other areas of the precinct...

So we may see a reversal of fortune in the city's retail - it certainly needs it.

[Scazmattaz]

No one really knows, but they're working on a master plan with another developer who owns some of the other areas of the precinct...

So we may see a reversal of fortune in the city's retail - it certainly needs it.

MartinN is correct, theres no real details yet, but the company that own them have done considerable redevelopment projects in what id call 'sub-centres' - those that have been a bit neglected such as ?Warrington? (i think) and therefore Coventry is similar.

Update on pedestrianisation:

Councillor Foster in all his wisdom is looking to pedestrianise not only the Burges, but also Broadgate and the end of high street as well. I have grave concerns that in the evenings i dont walk through the Precinct cos theres no road traffic, ill walk around the edge of the city centre. Plus the nearest the buses will stop to shops is Corporation Street, which aint good for the oldies.

If more of the city centre is pedestrianised wont more of it be visually insecure at night time???... please make your own comments...

[rottersclub]

MartinN is correct, theres no real details yet, but the company that own them have done considerable redevelopment projects in what id call 'sub-centres' - those that have been a bit neglected such as ?Warrington? (i think) and therefore Coventry is similar.

Update on pedestrianisation:

Councillor Foster in all his wisdom is looking to pedestrianise not only the Burges, but also Broadgate and the end of high street as well. I have grave concerns that in the evenings i dont walk through the Precinct cos theres no road traffic, ill walk around the edge of the city centre. Plus the nearest the buses will stop to shops is Corporation Street, which aint good for the oldies.

If more of the city centre is pedestrianised wont more of it be visually insecure at night time???... please make your own comments...

Personally, I think there has to be a balance between road traffic and pedestrian traffic. Coventry is already pedestriansed enough, and much of the pedestrianised areas are dead at night and not very busy during the day.

I think Coventry will end up being a ringroad surrounding a pedestrianised area, with a ringroad that's pretty much just a feed into huge car parks.

The town I grew up in used to be thriving - the council pedestrianised the main street through it, and killed it. Now it's filled with empty shops and no one bothers going there as it's easy to bypass and go elsewhere.

Surely cities thrive on pedestrian and motor traffic? Coventry's managed to alienate pedestrian flow already, and now seems happy to eliminate cars. When they closed off Corporation Street in the 1990s, they killed it.

Personally, I'd go back to how it was in the 1980s, when you could actually drive all round the city centre. Nowadays, the whole place seems utterly dead past 5.00. People clearly don't mind sitting in car jams - as the queue to get into West Orchards (Bafflingly) proves. Those of us with any sense park elsewhere, where there are no queues.

The Burges doesn't need pedestrianisation - it needs redeveloping and traffic. People don't walk out of the precinct to these side streets because they don't go anywhere. Pedestrianisation will just make them into more windswept, empty areas. Until there's a reason to go these neglected, cut off places, they will never thrive - just look at the canal basin! It's dead.

[Scazmattaz]

No one really knows, but they're working on a master plan with another developer who owns some of the other areas of the precinct...

So we may see a reversal of fortune in the city's retail - it certainly needs it.

MartinN is correct, theres no real information at the moment and we'll just have to wait and see what happens over the next 6-12months. It wont be a quick process!

[Scazmattaz]

And you guys thought Coventry was bad: http://www.open2.net/modernity/3_10.htm

Plus imagine if we had the Tricorn Centre... god it'd be terrible!!! (but i did really like that and always wanted to go there before they knocked it down.)

[Scazmattaz]

Cant really elaborate on the following but:

We are seeing a lot of interest for new-build city centre office developments for companies to relocate to. This should be interesting.