COVENTRY | Full Summary of Projects

[Dr Pepper]

This is the area behind the Ramada hotel. Is this where the new flats are to be built?

http://i15.tinypic.com/5zci87a.jpg

[inspired]

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.

oh go on...sounds interesting. This should be good news for those proposed office developments happening in the city centre - axa/friar -gate

...looking forward to belgrade plaza rising :dance:

[rottersclub]

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.


Vital, I'd say - Coventry has the lowest number of city centre workers/office space out of all the UK's major cities.

Bring it on! It's just what we need. Maybe it's a good job Coventry didn't fill up its centre with apartment blocks - cos now we may get all the office developments and the jobs!

[rottersclub]

This is the area behind the Ramada hotel. Is this where the new flats are to be built?

http://i15.tinypic.com/5zci87a.jpg

Sort of. It's the patch of land in front of the multi storey car park, just next door to the Thai restaurant (To the left on the photo)

[inspired]

Sort of. It's the patch of land in front of the car park, just next door to the Thai restaurant.

Any one been to the Thai restaurant??

[rottersclub]

Any one been to the Thai restaurant??

A few times for eat ins and takeaways. The food is OK - tasty, if somewhat unspectacular. The restaurant itself is nice inside, but it lacks atmosphere, and I think they've recently started doing a Thai/Indian/European mix a bit like MYO. The staff used to be really friendly Thai folk, but they seem to have gone now...

I prefer the Thai Dusit on London Road.

[inspired]

does anyone know if the £10bn of investment announced yesterday bu Ruth Kelly will be invested in (1) expanding the capacity of coventry station (2) have more branch line stations in coventry

[Scazmattaz]

does anyone know if the £10bn of investment announced yesterday bu Ruth Kelly will be invested in (1) expanding the capacity of coventry station (2) have more branch line stations in coventry

No it doesn't include anything for that. Warwickshire will still push their Parkway stations (which create car traffic) and will do there own thing, their politicians are nobheads

[Dr Pepper]

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...

I'm all in favour of pedestrianisation as it makes for a more space for people to move into (elderly + mothers with pushchairs etc) as opposed to pavements and traffic. It also makes for a more hospitable built environment. However the above seems to leave no space for the busses to pick up. We need to get these into the centre to make up for the cars the pedestrianisation pushes out.

If the above is carried out, is the plan to turn the inner ring road into one big bus stop, to feed people in and out of the centre?

[rottersclub]

Wibble!

[Scazmattaz]

I'm all in favour of pedestrianisation as it makes for a more space for people to move into (elderly + mothers with pushchairs etc) as opposed to pavements and traffic. It also makes for a more hospitable built environment. However the above seems to leave no space for the busses to pick up. We need to get these into the centre to make up for the cars the pedestrianisation pushes out.

If the above is carried out, is the plan to turn the inner ring road into one big bus stop, to feed people in and out of the centre?

I would assume all services will have to use the Corporation Street / Fairfax Street / Little Prk Street / New Union Street / Greyfriars Road loop. This will however only continue to work if Councillor Foster keeps the bus gates open and places in more!!!!

[rottersclub]

I would assume all services will have to use the Corporation Street / Fairfax Street / Little Prk Street / New Union Street / Greyfriars Road loop. This will however only continue to work if Councillor Foster keeps the bus gates open and places in more!!!!

I can see that Coventry in future is going be a huge shopping mall sitting in a sea of dead pedestrianised areas. The existing pedestriansed areas are dead past 5:30 and generally considered unsafe and no-go areas. Why is the rest going to be different?

[rottersclub]

Well they've demolished the old Edwardian houses on Friars Road - does this mean the apartment block is going to be going up soon?

[inspired]

wow, they'll be a few cranes on the skyline then :nuts:

[Scazmattaz]

Friars Road developers have been asked to pull down the buildings before anymore of them are arsoned, so will have to wait and see what happens. I might apply and see how affordable the affordable (shared ownership) properties are and register some interest; then they might tell me an indicative timescale.

A major developer is developing plans for St Johns redevelopment with primary uses being MSCP and office space.

[rottersclub]

Friars Road developers have been asked to pull down the buildings before anymore of them are arsoned, so will have to wait and see what happens. I might apply and see how affordable the affordable (shared ownership) properties are and register some interest; then they might tell me an indicative timescale.

A major developer is developing plans for St Johns redevelopment with primary uses being MSCP and office space.

Where is St John's?

[jonbon88]

Where is St John's?

is st johns the church on the corner of spon street ?
what are they going to be doing there ?

[rottersclub]

is st johns the church on the corner of spon street ?
what are they going to be doing there ?

I think it's somewhere near the police station - I looked on my A-Z and part of the ringroad is called "St John's."

[sleslie48]

Hey guys I've been away for a week so have just had to catch up on 3 pages of posts. Really interesting stuff and a lot of promise.

I have to state my dissapproval of the pedestrianisation plans, some people just can't see whats right in front of them, I swear some of the councillors don't actually go into coventry at all, and def not in the evening. I also have to say bus gates really annoy me, but I can see why they are used, I like driving round city streets tho.

I was telling some friends about Coventry the other day and realised that in 2-3 years it should be a much better place, and more interesting and credible architecturally, if everything is done to a decent, long term standard.

I'm excited that West Orchards/the precinct will be redeveloped but am scared it's going to just be a big tacky mall, still! A decent entrance from the precinct into WO shouldn't be too hard. It could be a street level entrance where the escalator is now. I think they had to go up and over the service area, which is why theres an escalator. If they can move the service area, that should allow a street level entrance and no escalator!! WOOO! I could be wrong tho, anyone know?

For me Broadgate is the key. Nothing is going to happen to it anytime soon, I'm certain of that. However, if it was a credible and a bussling centre, with busses, pedestrians, shops, cafes, bars, restraunts, then the rest of the centre will follow suit. Primark and Cathedral lanes should be earmarked for major mixed use redevelopment. I know it wont happen but hey ho, I can dream and rant!

I found the prospectus on investing in Coventry interesting. I was confused about some of the "completed" circles on the developments map. I think one of them was shelton sq! Thats a joke if it is!

Everyone seems to have a positive attitude at the mo too, it's great to read through all these posts and feel excited and optimistic.

[Scazmattaz]

I think it's somewhere near the police station - I looked on my A-Z and part of the ringroad is called "St John's."

Its behind the Police Station, that surface carpark.

[rottersclub]

Its behind the Police Station, that surface carpark.

Cool. That needs redeveloping. What do you think will go up here? Something as tall as the council house tower?

Oh, and give us a bit more info on these "relocations"? Not all government, I hope - Cov desperately could do with something different!

[inspired]

something like the reloation of National Express to birmingham would be good

[rottersclub]

something like the reloation of National Express to birmingham would be good

I'd be hoping for something a bit better than a bus company - financial or Hi-tech...

[inspired]

I'd be hoping for something a bit better than a bus company - financial or Hi-tech...


yes i agree with you, just read on the other thread that this is a top FTSE 250 company.

[rottersclub]

yes i agree with you, just read on the other thread that this is a top FTSE 250 company.

What other thread?

Good news if it is!

[inspired]

What other thread?

Good news if it is!

lol..sorry i wrote my last message in a rush, i meant to say that on one of the brum threads they have stated that National Express is a FTSE 250 company and the first company of its type to have a headquarters in birmingham.

[inspired]

in the CET last week there was a report stating that the council had a joint meeting with representatives from County Council and Network Rail about the ricoh train station and using that line to run 2 trains an hour from nuneaton to leamington spa, with another station at bermuda park. Does this put the Sprint at risk?

[Scazmattaz]

I'd be hoping for something a bit better than a bus company - financial or Hi-tech...

We could do with a bus company!! People might become less obsessed with their cars then...

[Scazmattaz]

in the CET last week there was a report stating that the council had a joint meeting with representatives from County Council and Network Rail about the ricoh train station and using that line to run 2 trains an hour from nuneaton to leamington spa, with another station at bermuda park. Does this put the Sprint at risk?

The business case for 2 trains an hour is flawed, and requires ongoing year on year subsidy. It also requires for Coventry City Council to put up £3M for the Ricoh station, plus Warwickshire to put money up for the Kenilworth station.

It is also suggesting that services might cross Coventry station - the answer is obvious to that one - 8 Virgin Euston trains an hour (4 each way) by 2009 is farrrr more important than a shitty 2-carriage diesal wank-stain train.

[Scazmattaz]

Oh we now have 5 cranes, 2 more than last week!

2 at Herbert Extension
3 at IKEA

And a small one is on site at the City College which makes 6!

[rottersclub]

We could do with a bus company!! People might become less obsessed with their cars then...

Why would having a bus company HQ in Cov make any difference? People don't like using buses for a number of reasons - none of them to do with having the HQ!

[rottersclub]

The business case for 2 trains an hour is flawed, and requires ongoing year on year subsidy. It also requires for Coventry City Council to put up £3M for the Ricoh station, plus Warwickshire to put money up for the Kenilworth station.

It is also suggesting that services might cross Coventry station - the answer is obvious to that one - 8 Virgin Euston trains an hour (4 each way) by 2009 is farrrr more important than a shitty 2-carriage diesal wank-stain train.

That line is useless for passengers, especially as it doesn't go anywhere apart from Nuneaton.

Sprint (Or some form of light railway) is far better for local journeys down the Nuneaton -> Leamington corridor. Trains are too inflexible. They are best kept for inter-city services that feed into a different local network.

[rottersclub]

Oh we now have 5 cranes, 2 more than last week!

2 at Herbert Extension
3 at IKEA

And a small one is on site at the City College which makes 6!

Who cares about these! We want

Belgrade Plaza
Butts Apartments
Friars Road
Victoria Building

to start!!!!!!!

[ccfc-4-life]

lol...IF they start, this is coventry....

[rottersclub]

in the CET last week there was a report stating that the council had a joint meeting with representatives from County Council and Network Rail about the ricoh train station and using that line to run 2 trains an hour from nuneaton to leamington spa, with another station at bermuda park. Does this put the Sprint at risk?

They've also been talking about running this to Stratford on Avon as well... Nuneaton -> Stratford.

I'd be surprised if it happens. As Scaz says, the train links to London are far more important!

[ccfc-4-life]

bit off subject but:....

Does anybody here follow any Coventry sports teams at all??

[rottersclub]

bit off subject but:....

Does anybody here follow any Coventry sports teams at all??


Nope, sorry. Have zero interest in any sort of sport - I'm much more into "the arts" and music... Which is prob. why I find Coventry such an unsatisfying place to live in.

[Scazmattaz]

Why would having a bus company HQ in Cov make any difference? People don't like using buses for a number of reasons - none of them to do with having the HQ!

The reason people in Coventry and Warwickshire have a major 'thing' about their cars and cars in general is cos a lot of people were / are involved in car stuff! If they built buses they would have pride in buses and the perception and respect of buses would rise.

National Express group (who own Travel) are spending £96M on new buses of which a large proportion are expected to be for Coventry, and De Courcey are investing heavily in new buses so we shouldn't have anything thats that old by the middle of next year, plus they are looking to improve the reliability and provide RTI which will mean when you are at a bus stop you can see what services are next to come and when they are expected to arrive (using satnav style tracking).

The City Council are working with IKEA to get a hybrid electric 'city-centre shuttle' bus service for the city centre.

Travel Coventry have also advertised the re-routing of the 34 service down the Binley Road, with a replacement Stoke Aldermoor service meaning an additional 2 services per hour each way on Binley Road - briinging the hourly totals to around 12/13 services in each way per hour on this route. The 19 service and 4 will be adjusted to provide a more appropriate routing.

Buses are the key to this fair city, and their is serious investment everywhere you look - they may have some un-likable charactures travelling on them but they are getting far far better!!! :lol:

[Scazmattaz]

That line is useless for passengers, especially as it doesn't go anywhere apart from Nuneaton.

Sprint (Or some form of light railway) is far better for local journeys down the Nuneaton -> Leamington corridor. Trains are too inflexible. They are best kept for inter-city services that feed into a different local network.

Yeh if Sprint went to Warwick / Leamington that'd be great, shame though as Warwickshire's councillors will never let something like that happen, so Warwickshire citizens are left as 3rd class.

[Scazmattaz]

That line is useless for passengers, especially as it doesn't go anywhere apart from Nuneaton.

Sprint (Or some form of light railway) is far better for local journeys down the Nuneaton -> Leamington corridor. Trains are too inflexible. They are best kept for inter-city services that feed into a different local network.

Who cares about these! We want

Belgrade Plaza
Butts Apartments
Friars Road
Victoria Building

to start!!!!!!!

Belgrade Plaza has started!!!

I wanna see Millenium View god damn it!!! :banana:

[Scazmattaz]

Nope, sorry. Have zero interest in any sort of sport - I'm much more into "the arts" and music... Which is prob. why I find Coventry such an unsatisfying place to live in.

MartinN, im gonna be very un-PC but this is a working class city, the working classes like sports and that is why there is a proliferation of sporting activities that can be spectated.

The city is changing to one that is becoming more lower-middle class and with that people tastes will change, they will eat out more, goto galleries and seek enlightenment in many different forms more and more. The fact the city centre is much busier on a Sunday than it used to be 12 months ago is proof of this already.

[rottersclub]

The reason people in Coventry and Warwickshire have a major 'thing' about their cars and cars in general is cos a lot of people were / are involved in car stuff! If they built buses they would have pride in buses and the perception and respect of buses would rise.

National Express group (who own Travel) are spending £96M on new buses of which a large proportion are expected to be for Coventry, and De Courcey are investing heavily in new buses so we shouldn't have anything thats that old by the middle of next year, plus they are looking to improve the reliability and provide RTI which will mean when you are at a bus stop you can see what services are next to come and when they are expected to arrive (using satnav style tracking).

The City Council are working with IKEA to get a hybrid electric 'city-centre shuttle' bus service for the city centre.

Travel Coventry have also advertised the re-routing of the 34 service down the Binley Road, with a replacement Stoke Aldermoor service meaning an additional 2 services per hour each way on Binley Road - briinging the hourly totals to around 12/13 services in each way per hour on this route. The 19 service and 4 will be adjusted to provide a more appropriate routing.

Buses are the key to this fair city, and their is serious investment everywhere you look - they may have some un-likable charactures travelling on them but they are getting far far better!!! :lol:

This is all very well, but I don't see this coaxing many people out of their cars.

And as for Ikea and buses - what a joke. People generally go to Ikea to buy large items of furniture?!? I can't think of a more pointless waste of time and money than having an Ikea bus service! I have a feeling this Ikea is going to be the first and last city centre store, and Cov will be lumbered with it!! It should have been out on the outskirts!

[rottersclub]

MartinN, im gonna be very un-PC but this is a working class city, the working classes like sports and that is why there is a proliferation of sporting activities that can be spectated.

The city is changing to one that is becoming more lower-middle class and with that people tastes will change, they will eat out more, goto galleries and seek enlightenment in many different forms more and more. The fact the city centre is much busier on a Sunday than it used to be 12 months ago is proof of this already.

I know exactly what Cov is - I've seen the statistics, and it's been a problem since the war, and part of the almost idiotic way the city was run for 50 years. It's also why Coventry has no creative industries. The reason why the council want to bring in 100,000 extra people is purely to get the city a large middle class population and diversify the population. Something it sorely lacks. Folk who are middle-lower class simply don't want to live in Coventry because it's such an unattractive city, both visually and culturally. Aside from a couple of tiny enclaves, it's a sprawl of dismal terraced housing with no real character & dwindling local facilities.

All cities are mainly working class - however, Coventry council effectively put all their eggs in one basket and did not make any sort of attempt to create a diverse local economy, neither did they attempt to take advantage of the local region, instead they turned their nose up at anything that wasn't motor industry and created a huge noose. Now we are paying for their actions with a shit city centre filled with ugly buildings and poorly educated, low skilled workforce - when I lived in Sheffield, graduates tended to want to stay in the city and work. In Coventry, students can't wait to leave - We used to joke that the reason Cov Uni did sandwich courses was because after 2 years people needed a break from the place.

At the moment Coventry has way too many people in the lower social bandings and thus does not have the diversity that other cities and smaller towns have. Without any top notch new employers in the city that can get the graddies from Warwick/Coventry to stay, the place will be doomed to be a centre for huge warehousing and distribution centres paying crap wages and requiring virtually no skills.

I haven't noticed much change in Cov over the last year - if anything, the city centre has become more unattractive, and the aside from one restaurant (Aqua) the rest of the new arrivals have been distinctly underwhelming - especially MYO, which is a glorified canteen. In fact, I've noticed the sort of lowlife scum who have ruined the city centre are now moving in on Earlsdon, what with fights in the street, and people who've lived in Earlsdon for years are saying it's not the same anymore. I'm getting pretty concerned that the area might be going downhill, and wondering it it's time to get out of the city.

I work for a foreign company that has a large office here. They do NOT house their foreign staff (10% of the total) in Coventry AT ALL. They all live in Solihull or Milton Keynes. Now that is, I think, pretty shocking.

PS: If you look into the literature available about Coventry - mainly academic stuff - there are a few papers that talk about this. I read them about 10 years ago when I first moved back here, and it struck me then that they've got a HUGE job on their hands to try to get Coventry to even be like it's peers - Leicester, Nottingham, Cardiff, etc. This is perhaps why I am so negative sometimes!

[Scazmattaz]

This is all very well, but I don't see this coaxing many people out of their cars.

And as for Ikea and buses - what a joke. People generally go to Ikea to buy large items of furniture?!? I can't think of a more pointless waste of time and money than having an Ikea bus service! I have a feeling this Ikea is going to be the first and last city centre store, and Cov will be lumbered with it!! It should have been out on the outskirts!

I have to disagree with you, i think that putting it on the outskirts would only worsen the accessibility issues we already have around with with the damn business parks everywhere.

I would suggest the largest proportion of those going to IKEA are buying 'tit-bits' and not large furniture. Stuff they can easily carry places.

[Scazmattaz]

I know exactly what Cov is - I've seen the statistics, and it's been a problem since the war, and part of the almost idiotic way the city was run for 50 years. It's also why Coventry has no creative industries. The reason why the council want to bring in 100,000 extra people is purely to get the city a large middle class population and diversify the population.

At the moment Coventry has way too many people in the lower social bandings and thus does not have the diversity that other cities and smaller towns have. Without any top notch new employers in the city that can get the graddies from Warwick/Coventry to stay, the place will be doomed to be a centre for huge warehousing and distribution centres paying crap wages and requiring virtually no skills.

I think getting the high-end employers is important, and creating an image for the city like Manchester did for itself in the late 90s with Manchester becoming a trademark and people are very proud of it now, would encourage more people from outside to live here. Lets be honest theres no jobs for graduates in Warwickshire / Coventry / Northamptonshire / Leicestershire full stop, Manchester Birmingham London and the South East have that bag already.

[Scazmattaz]

Marty we need to encourage some newbies outta the woodwork! Seems you me pepper ccfc and a few others are the only ones posting :(

[rottersclub]

Marty we need to encourage some newbies outta the woodwork! Seems you me pepper ccfc and a few others are the only ones posting :(

Cov people don't post to forums. You only get ex-pats banging on about how great it was in the old days. Look at the iccoventry forums - anyone from outside of Coventry reading that would think the city is filled with semi-literate morons. It's quite shocking.

[rottersclub]

I have to disagree with you, i think that putting it on the outskirts would only worsen the accessibility issues we already have around with with the damn business parks everywhere.

I would suggest the largest proportion of those going to IKEA are buying 'tit-bits' and not large furniture. Stuff they can easily carry places.

I think those people are in the minority. It's well known that people who go to Ikea do it as a "day trip" and buy a lot of large stuff. The whole store is designed to make it like that - you go in at the start and follow a route through. It's not the sort of place you can nip in easily and get a bag of glass beads for your water filled plantpot.

I just can't see many IKEA customers wanting to use buses. I just have this horrible feeling that when it opens it's going to jam up the ringroad completely and drive people - non IKEA shoppers - away.

[rottersclub]

I think getting the high-end employers is important, and creating an image for the city like Manchester did for itself in the late 90s with Manchester becoming a trademark and people are very proud of it now, would encourage more people from outside to live here. Lets be honest theres no jobs for graduates in Warwickshire / Coventry / Northamptonshire / Leicestershire full stop, Manchester Birmingham London and the South East have that bag already.

There are graduate jobs in Cov - used to be more years ago when Marconi was larger. That seems to be on its way out, though. People like Barclays, AXA, Learning Skills council, Becta, etc all employ graduates, as does my employer.

Not enough to keep all those Cov/Warwick graddies, though.

[ccfc-4-life]

I think those people are in the minority. It's well known that people who go to Ikea do it as a "day trip" and buy a lot of large stuff. The whole store is designed to make it like that - you go in at the start and follow a route through. It's not the sort of place you can nip in easily and get a bag of glass beads for your water filled plantpot.

I just can't see many IKEA customers wanting to use buses. I just have this horrible feeling that when it opens it's going to jam up the ringroad completely and drive people - non IKEA shoppers - away.

but you have to remember, if you have any sort of intellegance, you wouldnt taek the bus to and from a shop you are planning on buying large furniture would you? You would plan ahead and take your car right?

[jonbon88]

I know exactly what Cov is - I've seen the statistics, and it's been a problem since the war, and part of the almost idiotic way the city was run for 50 years. It's also why Coventry has no creative industries. The reason why the council want to bring in 100,000 extra people is purely to get the city a large middle class population and diversify the population. Something it sorely lacks. Folk who are middle-lower class simply don't want to live in Coventry because it's such an unattractive city, both visually and culturally. Aside from a couple of tiny enclaves, it's a sprawl of dismal terraced housing with no real character & dwindling local facilities.

All cities are mainly working class - however, Coventry council effectively put all their eggs in one basket and did not make any sort of attempt to create a diverse local economy, neither did they attempt to take advantage of the local region, instead they turned their nose up at anything that wasn't motor industry and created a huge noose. Now we are paying for their actions with a shit city centre filled with ugly buildings and poorly educated, low skilled workforce - when I lived in Sheffield, graduates tended to want to stay in the city and work. In Coventry, students can't wait to leave - We used to joke that the reason Cov Uni did sandwich courses was because after 2 years people needed a break from the place.

At the moment Coventry has way too many people in the lower social bandings and thus does not have the diversity that other cities and smaller towns have. Without any top notch new employers in the city that can get the graddies from Warwick/Coventry to stay, the place will be doomed to be a centre for huge warehousing and distribution centres paying crap wages and requiring virtually no skills.

I haven't noticed much change in Cov over the last year - if anything, the city centre has become more unattractive, and the aside from one restaurant (Aqua) the rest of the new arrivals have been distinctly underwhelming - especially MYO, which is a glorified canteen. In fact, I've noticed the sort of lowlife scum who have ruined the city centre are now moving in on Earlsdon, what with fights in the street, and people who've lived in Earlsdon for years are saying it's not the same anymore. I'm getting pretty concerned that the area might be going downhill, and wondering it it's time to get out of the city.

I work for a foreign company that has a large office here. They do NOT house their foreign staff (10% of the total) in Coventry AT ALL. They all live in Solihull or Milton Keynes. Now that is, I think, pretty shocking.

PS: If you look into the literature available about Coventry - mainly academic stuff - there are a few papers that talk about this. I read them about 10 years ago when I first moved back here, and it struck me then that they've got a HUGE job on their hands to try to get Coventry to even be like it's peers - Leicester, Nottingham, Cardiff, etc. This is perhaps why I am so negative sometimes!

I have been away for the past year at university and now I have returned I have notice major changes in the city centre, its become much more diverse, and a lot cleaner as well, you may not like these new places like MYO but a lot of other people do.
I think u should take your own advice and may be move, however u will find that most of these places u rave about have many of the same problems.

[Dr Pepper]

I have been away for the past year at university and now I have returned I have notice major changes in the city centre, its become much more diverse, and a lot cleaner as well, you may not like these new places like MYO but a lot of other people do.
I think u should take your own advice and may be move, however u will find that most of these places u rave about have many of the same problems.

I'd agree with that. Coventry certainly has it's problems but the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

As for graduates staying on, practically everyone I know in Cov outside work is from outside the city. Lots of people in my year stayed on. I think it was knowing lots of people and the relatively cheap house prices.

[Scazmattaz]

I have been away for the past year at university and now I have returned I have notice major changes in the city centre, its become much more diverse, and a lot cleaner as well, you may not like these new places like MYO but a lot of other people do.
I think u should take your own advice and may be move, however u will find that most of these places u rave about have many of the same problems.

The grass is always greener as they say, everywhere you dont live is always nicer, but i've recently realised how much nicer it is to live in Coventry than Birmingham.

Birmingham is going downhill fast! - all my mates have been attacked / mugged within the past 4 years (i was the only one who was male and gay and wasn't) and i really dont feel overly safe when im there after 4pm-ish, and the people who go to the clubs aren't the same as they used to be, so i just stay in Coventry.

My mate in Nottingham says its turned really chavvy up there aswell, and she doesn't like it as much as when she moved, but you do have niche clubs and stuff where you can escape the chavs, at a price!!!

[Dr Pepper]

Cov people don't post to forums. You only get ex-pats banging on about how great it was in the old days. Look at the iccoventry forums - anyone from outside of Coventry reading that would think the city is filled with semi-literate morons. It's quite shocking.

The letters page of the ET is little better. Some of these people are complete morons! Its as bad as reading the Daily Mail!

Sorry, feeling better now.

[Scazmattaz]

The letters page of the ET is little better. Some of these people are complete morons! Its as bad as reading the Daily Mail!

Sorry, feeling better now.

Yeh and there were some compliments in there earlier, nice to know the local locals dont just moan, put a smile on my face! :cheers:

Be interesting to see how the Telegraph report on the Hearsall Common works tomorrow, im hoping they take a middle ground angle and not go and interview everyone saying 'its a disgrace!' etc... i think its a great idea and it'll benefit a lot of people and disbenefit no-one really.

[jonbon88]

The grass is always greener as they say, everywhere you dont live is always nicer, but i've recently realised how much nicer it is to live in Coventry than Birmingham.

Birmingham is going downhill fast! - all my mates have been attacked / mugged within the past 4 years (i was the only one who was male and gay and wasn't) and i really dont feel overly safe when im there after 4pm-ish, and the people who go to the clubs aren't the same as they used to be, so i just stay in Coventry.

My mate in Nottingham says its turned really chavvy up there aswell, and she doesn't like it as much as when she moved, but you do have niche clubs and stuff where you can escape the chavs, at a price!!!



i would say that Cov is defiantly a safe place to live, sure u get the bad news in the papers but they have to print some thing right ?
i have never been a victim of crime in Coventry nor have any of my friends,
Birmingham does seem rather rough and its not a really gay friendly city (speaking from experience )

[rottersclub]

i would say that Cov is defiantly a safe place to live, sure u get the bad news in the papers but they have to print some thing right ?
i have never been a victim of crime in Coventry nor have any of my friends,
Birmingham does seem rather rough and its not a really gay friendly city (speaking from experience )

Anecdotal evidence proves nothing. I know someone (Gay) who just moved from Coventry to Brum and would say the opposite - he absolutely loathed Coventry but loves Brum.

I've not been a victim of crime, but then again, I've only been into the city centre for a night out four or five times this year.

If you look at the violence, it's generally located in the same areas. I've never found Coventry particularly threatening at night, but I know people who dress slightly differently (Alternative types) who gets a lot of hassle and really hate the city centre.

[Scazmattaz]

i would say that Cov is defiantly a safe place to live, sure u get the bad news in the papers but they have to print some thing right ?
i have never been a victim of crime in Coventry nor have any of my friends,
Birmingham does seem rather rough and its not a really gay friendly city (speaking from experience )

You dont have to answer this if you dont want but are you gay or know people who are then?

The council estate boys who live near China Town hang around and mug and beat up guys near Bristol Street, its really sickening. My old housemate who was a brummy her brother (straight as straight can be!) was beaten up along Bristol Street. I dont look gay so i think thats why i've got away with it so far.

[rottersclub]

I'd agree with that. Coventry certainly has it's problems but the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

As for graduates staying on, practically everyone I know in Cov outside work is from outside the city. Lots of people in my year stayed on. I think it was knowing lots of people and the relatively cheap house prices.

Lots of my year stayed on (1992) but they have virtually all gone. The poor local jobs scene means there's a flow of people down to London/South East.

[rottersclub]

I have been away for the past year at university and now I have returned I have notice major changes in the city centre, its become much more diverse, and a lot cleaner as well, you may not like these new places like MYO but a lot of other people do.
I think u should take your own advice and may be move, however u will find that most of these places u rave about have many of the same problems.

Bury your head in the sand if you want - but Cov's inability to keep its skilled and educated population is a huge problem.

On a better note, it seems that high prices in Warwickshire are forcing people to look in Coventry now.

[rottersclub]

You dont have to answer this if you dont want but are you gay or know people who are then?

The council estate boys who live near China Town hang around and mug and beat up guys near Bristol Street, its really sickening. My old housemate who was a brummy her brother (straight as straight can be!) was beaten up along Bristol Street. I dont look gay so i think thats why i've got away with it so far.

Just how does one "look gay"?

[rottersclub]

Yeh and there were some compliments in there earlier, nice to know the local locals dont just moan, put a smile on my face! :cheers:

Be interesting to see how the Telegraph report on the Hearsall Common works tomorrow, im hoping they take a middle ground angle and not go and interview everyone saying 'its a disgrace!' etc... i think its a great idea and it'll benefit a lot of people and disbenefit no-one really.

What's the "Hearsall Common" works?

[rottersclub]

but you have to remember, if you have any sort of intellegance, you wouldnt taek the bus to and from a shop you are planning on buying large furniture would you? You would plan ahead and take your car right?

No, you wouldn't. But Ikea sells mainly large items of furniture?!? I've only been twice, but the only small stuff I remember were vases and things like that. And even then, they weren't small.

The thing is, with Ikea and that dreadful "follow the route" mentality, would casual browsers just "nip in for a vase or a print of a waterlillies"? Or would shoppers thing "might go to Ikea while I'm in town, better drive."

What sort of demographic uses the buses? What the identity of your average Ikea customer?

Still. It's gonna be fucking big at least for a few exciting months when it opens!!!!

[ccfc-4-life]

No, you wouldn't. But Ikea sells mainly large items of furniture?!? I've only been twice, but the only small stuff I remember were vases and things like that. And even then, they weren't small.

The thing is, with Ikea and that dreadful "follow the route" mentality, would casual browsers just "nip in for a vase or a print of a waterlillies"? Or would shoppers thing "might go to Ikea while I'm in town, better drive."

What sort of demographic uses the buses? What the identity of your average Ikea customer?

Still. It's gonna be fucking big at least for a few exciting months when it opens!!!!

i think the bus services are to encourage the staff, who live in the city, to take the bus into town and walk to work so that the 3 floors of parking spaces can be left for customers...

yeah it will be exciting to watch a busy coventry city centre!:D

[rottersclub]

i think the bus services are to encourage the staff, who live in the city, to take the bus into town and walk to work so that the 3 floors of parking spaces can be left for customers...

yeah it will be exciting to watch a busy coventry city centre!:D

I thought it was 2 floors of car parking, 2 floors of warehouse, and then 2 floors of store.

I've heard there are 26 lifts - 13 shafts overall.

[jonbon88]

Bury your head in the sand if you want - but Cov's inability to keep its skilled and educated population is a huge problem.

On a better note, it seems that high prices in Warwickshire are forcing people to look in Coventry now.



i think its the lack of highly paid jobs which forces people to move away,
in a few years we will have a lot of new business opening up in Coventry which will allow these highly paid jobs, which will make graduates stay in the city, and there for more investment will follow. thanks to all these new developments such as friarsgat, AXA and others. improvements have already been made and the city centre is much better and in a few years it will be even better.

and yes i am gay.

[sleslie48]

Im a graduate and Im staying! I know a lot of other people who are. It's a brilliant location in the country, small and manageable and cheap(ish) house prices.

I feel safe in coventry. If I stray out of the centre I don't feel safe, but as I think I've mentioned before, that could be because outside the centre I actually see other people!

Get some life and culture in and it's a dam good city!

[inspired]

The grass is always greener as they say, everywhere you dont live is always nicer, but i've recently realised how much nicer it is to live in Coventry than Birmingham.

Birmingham is going downhill fast! - all my mates have been attacked / mugged within the past 4 years (i was the only one who was male and gay and wasn't) and i really dont feel overly safe when im there after 4pm-ish, and the people who go to the clubs aren't the same as they used to be, so i just stay in Coventry.

My mate in Nottingham says its turned really chavvy up there aswell, and she doesn't like it as much as when she moved, but you do have niche clubs and stuff where you can escape the chavs, at a price!!!

i lived in nottingham for over 6 years till i moved back to cov. Nottingham was quite good then but quite violent, especially on the weekends in the city centre. Ive seen on many occasions, street brawls in the city centre during the afternoon/early evening. Worse in the evening. Went back recently for a couple of days, and its gone down hill. Loads of empty retail units in its main shopping centres. On the weekend it turns into a right chavy city centre , lol.

After all that Nottingham works well because of the local centres are really good, like west bridgeford and mapperley.

[rottersclub]

i lived in nottingham for over 6 years till i moved back to cov. Nottingham was quite good then but quite violent, especially on the weekends in the city centre. Ive seen on many occasions, street brawls in the city centre during the afternoon/early evening. Worse in the evening. Went back recently for a couple of days, and its gone down hill. Loads of empty retail units in its main shopping centres. On the weekend it turns into a right chavy city centre , lol.

After all that Nottingham works well because of the local centres are really good, like west bridgeford and mapperley.

Nottingham seems to have inherited the reputation Cov had in the 1980s/1990s [Which were based on a total fabrication!]

Speaking of violence, I was in Leeds a year or so back, and I've never seen so many violent, pissed up people fighting than anywhere else. It was awful, and the atmosphere was tense. A few months before that, I was in Skydome in Cov [That cheap nasty Orleans restaurant] and outside there was a fight kicking off every five minutes... We couldn't believe it. The security guards finished splitting one up, and another one would start. Have these dickheads got nothing better to do???

Cov's only got one decent local centre - Earlsdon. It's just a worry to people there that the dickheads are moving in. Wetherspoons is quite horrible. When the weather's nice, all the cafes and bars and restaurants and even the deli have street tables... feels very European!

The new season at the Belgrade looks interesting.

[rottersclub]

Im a graduate and Im staying! I know a lot of other people who are. It's a brilliant location in the country, small and manageable and cheap(ish) house prices.

I feel safe in coventry. If I stray out of the centre I don't feel safe, but as I think I've mentioned before, that could be because outside the centre I actually see other people!

Get some life and culture in and it's a dam good city!

Cov isn't cheap anymore - it's not as expensive as the South East, but it's far more expensive than most of the north, and more expensive than a lot of the rest of the West Mids...

One of Cov's biggest assetts is Warwickshire.

[Scazmattaz]

Cov isn't cheap anymore - it's not as expensive as the South East, but it's far more expensive than most of the north, and more expensive than a lot of the rest of the West Mids...

One of Cov's biggest assetts is Warwickshire.

I dont ever use Warwickshire, nor have a desire to. Leamington is overrated, and my friends have started to say how its going downhill and they dont like anymore and the nightlife is shite, and that there is a lot of violence there at night... all my mates also live in Coventry and i find Warwickshire folk quite biggoted and opinionated... therefore i think Coventry's biggest asset is Coventry!!!

It has the biggest population in the area, good road links and its at the centre of Warwickshire and therefore can have the biggest pull and biggest catchment area in the future.

[rottersclub]

I dont ever use Warwickshire, nor have a desire to. Leamington is overrated, and my friends have started to say how its going downhill and they dont like anymore and the nightlife is shite, and that there is a lot of violence there at night... all my mates also live in Coventry and i find Warwickshire folk quite biggoted and opinionated... therefore i think Coventry's biggest asset is Coventry!!!


It's a huge assett. Friargate are using it push their development. Look at their website.

No matter what you say about Leamington, its crime rates are tiny compared to Coventry's.


It has the biggest population in the area, good road links and its at the centre of Warwickshire and therefore can have the biggest pull and biggest catchment area in the future.


Cov may have the biggest population, and a big catchment (One that is quite wealthy, as well), but it doesn't seem to help it much - the road links seem to attract nothing but warehousing and distribution, and the traditional flow of Coventrians to Leamington/Warwickshire both for Leisure and shopping (And living) has always been large, and I don't see any signs of it stopping (This is a fact - the population of Cov has decreased over the years, with a lot of people migrating out to Warwickshire)

Cov City council must be green at the sight of Waitrose going up in Kenilworth... Not only is it one of their "target" retailers to make the city more attractive to incoming folk, but its proximity to the wealthy parts of south Coventry mean that there's not a hope in hell of one going up here in the future. So for now, having Kenilworth (In Warwickshire) close by may well be attractive for getting this influx of "new" people they want!!!! Let's face it, they're not going to move here because there's six ASDAs, sixy three million Kebab Shops on Far Gosford Street and four zillion Morrisons!!! Oh, and a complex of chain bars filled with obligatory fighting chavs.

[Scazmattaz]

It's a huge assett. Friargate are using it push their development. Look at their website.

No matter what you say about Leamington, its crime rates are tiny compared to Coventry's.



Cov may have the biggest population, and a big catchment (One that is quite wealthy, as well), but it doesn't seem to help it much - the road links seem to attract nothing but warehousing and distribution, and the traditional flow of Coventrians to Leamington/Warwickshire both for Leisure and shopping (And living) has always been large, and I don't see any signs of it stopping (This is a fact - the population of Cov has decreased over the years, with a lot of people migrating out to Warwickshire)

Cov City council must be green at the sight of Waitrose going up in Kenilworth... Not only is it one of their "target" retailers to make the city more attractive to incoming folk, but its proximity to the wealthy parts of south Coventry mean that there's not a hope in hell of one going up here in the future. So for now, having Kenilworth (In Warwickshire) close by may well be attractive for getting this influx of "new" people they want!!!! Let's face it, they're not going to move here because there's six ASDAs, sixy three million Kebab Shops on Far Gosford Street and four zillion Morrisons!!! Oh, and a complex of chain bars filled with obligatory fighting chavs.

Yes Waitrose have committed to open between 10 and 15 new stores in Birmingham alone, i think Earlsdon High Street or Friargate might be a suitable location for a Waitrose in the future, but they have a lot of middle-class towns they want to tap into first. Hopefully the growth of the high-end market supermarkets will reduce Tesco's market share and make them poo their pants!

[Scazmattaz]

Lol Marty you make me laugh! I know where you're coming from with everything you say... i am a complete optimist and believe the city has a blank canvas (60s easily demolishable buildings) to work with and that it can have an amazing turn-around.

[rottersclub]

Yes Waitrose have committed to open between 10 and 15 new stores in Birmingham alone, i think Earlsdon High Street or Friargate might be a suitable location for a Waitrose in the future, but they have a lot of middle-class towns they want to tap into first. Hopefully the growth of the high-end market supermarkets will reduce Tesco's market share and make them poo their pants!

There's absolutely no room in Earlsdon for a Waitrose...

[rottersclub]

Lol Marty you make me laugh! I know where you're coming from with everything you say... i am a complete optimist and believe the city has a blank canvas (60s easily demolishable buildings) to work with and that it can have an amazing turn-around.

Oh yes, I agree it's a blank canvas, but I've read too many papers (During the course of some research for a local history MA) about the local economy and Cov's history to see that it's far more than a few new buildings that Cov needs. The council hit the nail on the head when they started talking about an extra 100,000 people. There are other huge issues, though. An extra 100,000 people working in warehouses isn't going to help much. The council clearly know the problem with Coventry and want to sort it out. That would just leave the other problem. The shit post-war planning and architecture.


I noticed a few extra cranes on the skyline this morning - is there one on Belgrade Plaza? [Now this I have high hopes for!!!!]

[Dr Pepper]

I noticed a few extra cranes on the skyline this morning - is there one on Belgrade Plaza? [Now this I have high hopes for!!!!]

Well I drove home from work past the Belgrade Plaza site and there were no cranes I could see. There were two at the college site though.

[rottersclub]

Well I drove home from work past the Belgrade Plaza site and there were no cranes I could see. There were two at the college site though.

Yeah, saw those. And IKEA have started putting in the glazing... Looks OK, actually... Well, that bit does.

[Scazmattaz]

Yeah, saw those. And IKEA have started putting in the glazing... Looks OK, actually... Well, that bit does.

Okay so crane count:

IKEA: 3
Herbert Extension: 2
City College Phase 2: 2

TOTAL: 7

I think thats pretty good going. Think Birmingham only has something like 13/14.

And i bet in other areas of the city there are probably another 4 or something like that.

[rottersclub]

There are 2 cranes in Earlsdon - one on the Warwick Road apartments. The other on the "old folks" village.

But, some EXCELLENT news for Cov on the jobs front: Ericsson are building a R&D centre at Ansty.

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=ericsson-set-to-move-out-to-ansty-site%26method=full%26objectid=19552627%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

This is the sort of thing we want!

Planning application already in for two buildings.

[Scazmattaz]

Hearsall Common Phase 2, this is out to consultation until 30th August.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6262/hearsallcommon1fq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Scazmattaz]

Hearsall Common Phase 1, this is out to consultation for the same period of time...

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7159/hearsallcommon2gx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I personally like both parts however i can see that the bus lane on the Common itself is controversial.

[Dr Pepper]

More bus lanes are welcome. However, I can see the car lobby moaning in the ET about this.

[timbotambo]

My 2 Cents, Long time reader, first time poster etc

I am 25, graduated with strong results in 2004, now fortunate to command a wage nearly double my age....and I live in Coventry and have done for 3 years. I commute every day to London on those daft tilting things.

So thats my background, and what I can see from this board is that I am exactly the type of person people want living here, and I do. I purchased a large house on the outskirts due to price and countryside on the doorstep. So, naturally, I have a vested interest in what's going on around here.

First of all, the unsafeness, no go areas etc is sensationalist rubbish. Read 'Reform' May 2006 - urban crime rankings and you will see Coventry fares very very well, even exceeding some rather prestigious names on certain types of crime. The city centre does have it's t*ats hanging around, but no more than any city. I have never had any problems and frequently go into both Cov and Brum city centres. Intimidation is in your mind, the chances of being a victim of crime is very very low. Besides, the bars and restaurants are top notch, and the city is a good size for shopping for my needs. London is useless! The people in Coventry (especially that fatties in tracksuits) are merely a source of amusement, but no more than other towns and cities.

It's obvious to all that Coventry is a poor neighbour to Birmingham, but nor does it have the residency of that city thus not as much tax money in the coffers. However, the plans for the city are 100% the right way to go, especially Friargate. They just cannot come soon enough!! Further improvements such as the Ricoh Station (which will come, especially with Govia on-board, pun intended), Sprint, etc etc will only improve things further. It's a gradual change, but one which we are all privilaged to see happening before our eyes. Just think how long Brum took to improve!

[rottersclub]

My 2 Cents, Long time reader, first time poster etc

I am 25, graduated with strong results in 2004, now fortunate to command a wage nearly double my age....and I live in Coventry and have done for 3 years. I commute every day to London on those daft tilting things.

So thats my background, and what I can see from this board is that I am exactly the type of person people want living here, and I do. I purchased a large house on the outskirts due to price and countryside on the doorstep. So, naturally, I have a vested interest in what's going on around here.

First of all, the unsafeness, no go areas etc is sensationalist rubbish. Read 'Reform' May 2006 - urban crime rankings and you will see Coventry fares very very well, even exceeding some rather prestigious names on certain types of crime. The city centre does have it's t*ats hanging around, but no more than any city. I have never had any problems and frequently go into both Cov and Brum city centres. Intimidation is in your mind, the chances of being a victim of crime is very very low. Besides, the bars and restaurants are top notch, and the city is a good size for shopping for my needs. London is useless! The people in Coventry (especially that fatties in tracksuits) are merely a source of amusement, but no more than other towns and cities.

It's obvious to all that Coventry is a poor neighbour to Birmingham, but nor does it have the residency of that city thus not as much tax money in the coffers. However, the plans for the city are 100% the right way to go, especially Friargate. They just cannot come soon enough!! Further improvements such as the Ricoh Station (which will come, especially with Govia on-board, pun intended), Sprint, etc etc will only improve things further. It's a gradual change, but one which we are all privilaged to see happening before our eyes. Just think how long Brum took to improve!

Welcome... Don't be put off by negativity! Things are upbeat at the moment.

Agree about the plans - the plans seems to be swinging more towards office space than apartments now.

I see all things vital (Apart from the Ricoh station, which is just pointless) that are going on - Ikea, Belgrade Plaza, Friargate, Victoria Buildings, QCA moving to the Butts, Paragon Park, Ansty [Now with Ericsson], Whitley Business Park, Stoke Urban Village, etc...

[Scazmattaz]

My 2 Cents, Long time reader, first time poster etc

I am 25, graduated with strong results in 2004, now fortunate to command a wage nearly double my age....and I live in Coventry and have done for 3 years. I commute every day to London on those daft tilting things.

So thats my background, and what I can see from this board is that I am exactly the type of person people want living here, and I do. I purchased a large house on the outskirts due to price and countryside on the doorstep. So, naturally, I have a vested interest in what's going on around here.

First of all, the unsafeness, no go areas etc is sensationalist rubbish. Read 'Reform' May 2006 - urban crime rankings and you will see Coventry fares very very well, even exceeding some rather prestigious names on certain types of crime. The city centre does have it's t*ats hanging around, but no more than any city. I have never had any problems and frequently go into both Cov and Brum city centres. Intimidation is in your mind, the chances of being a victim of crime is very very low. Besides, the bars and restaurants are top notch, and the city is a good size for shopping for my needs. London is useless! The people in Coventry (especially that fatties in tracksuits) are merely a source of amusement, but no more than other towns and cities.

It's obvious to all that Coventry is a poor neighbour to Birmingham, but nor does it have the residency of that city thus not as much tax money in the coffers. However, the plans for the city are 100% the right way to go, especially Friargate. They just cannot come soon enough!! Further improvements such as the Ricoh Station (which will come, especially with Govia on-board, pun intended), Sprint, etc etc will only improve things further. It's a gradual change, but one which we are all privilaged to see happening before our eyes. Just think how long Brum took to improve!

Hey, great to have you on the forums! Things are becoming very positive at the moment, and the more schemes that start the more cranes etc we will see and the more the locals will realise the city is changing and becoming a bit prouder of the place. Yes we are going to start having traffic congestion problems and yes everything that is happening may not be to people taste, but we have a blank canvas and the opportunity to turn this place totally around for everyone and i just hope that can be achieved in the long-run.

It felt well muggy last night; im guessing all the flood waters were evaporating into the air and blowing over Coventry!

[rottersclub]

Hey, great to have you on the forums! Things are becoming very positive at the moment, and the more schemes that start the more cranes etc we will see and the more the locals will realise the city is changing and becoming a bit prouder of the place. Yes we are going to start having traffic congestion problems and yes everything that is happening may not be to people taste, but we have a blank canvas and the opportunity to turn this place totally around for everyone and i just hope that can be achieved in the long-run.

It felt well muggy last night; im guessing all the flood waters were evaporating into the air and blowing over Coventry!

Yep, it was very humid.

If everything was done to the tastes of the more vocal letter writers, everything would be built in mock Victorian style. I just wait for the day when Cov gets an Alsop, Foster, etc, building going up.

[inspired]

Yep, it was very humid.

If everything was done to the more vocal letter writers, everything would be built in mock Victorian style. I just wait for the day when Cov gets an Alsop, Foster, etc, building going up.

yes an Alsop or Foster would put Coventry on the map for sure..

By the way welcome to the forum timbotambo...:cheers1:

[rottersclub]

I think ideally, they want folk to come to Cov to get an education (I did, twice!), and then stay and live/work here... Which means providing not only the jobs but also the housing...

What's the commute to London like?

[Scazmattaz]

Yep, it was very humid.

If everything was done to the tastes of the more vocal letter writers, everything would be built in mock Victorian style. I just wait for the day when Cov gets an Alsop, Foster, etc, building going up.

Something shaped like 2 breasts might be appropriate!

[Scazmattaz]

I think ideally, they want folk to come to Cov to get an education (I did, twice!), and then stay and live/work here... Which means providing not only the jobs but also the housing...

What's the commute to London like?

1hr 4mins peak time, costs £108 return on the day. Thats gonna decrease to 59 minutes or something next year, then 54 in 2009/10 and the number of services should go up from 2 to 3, then maybe 3 to 4 per hour.

[Scazmattaz]

Relocation relocation maybe (hint!!!)...

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1975/stjohnscarparknw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[inspired]

nice hint :lol:

can you post the text please ... ta

[rottersclub]

Hopefully they'll be able to get someone to relocate.

Plenty of land in Cov for office, though, as they don't seem that keen on building any more apartments.

I wonder if they'll build on the car park at the end of Whitefriars street? It'd be cool to have the ringroad built up around.

[Scazmattaz]

Hopefully they'll be able to get someone to relocate.

Plenty of land in Cov for office, though, as they don't seem that keen on building any more apartments.

I wonder if they'll build on the car park at the end of Whitefriars street? It'd be cool to have the ringroad built up around.

That Whitefriars area is in the Development Plan for housing, and it would indeed make a good site for it. I would be interested to see the pricing however i think it might get overrun with students!

This is a bigger version;

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9308/stjohnscarparkox3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rottersclub]

All good news...
I'm all for more offices in Cov and the removal of ground level car parks. Waste of land. Far better to build on it.

That's quite a small patch of land, though, if my memory serves me correctly.

[Scazmattaz]

All good news...
I'm all for more offices in Cov and the removal of ground level car parks. Waste of land. Far better to build on it.

That's quite a small patch of land, though, if my memory serves me correctly.

Its decieving, its bigger than it looks and if you think you can ram a multi-storey in on half the site and get about 600 spaces in it thats pretty good use to space, then the other half can be used for another 'company' lol

[Scazmattaz]

Bloody Warwickshire...

Developer unveiled for town centre planAug 2 2007


A Midland development company has been picked by Warwick District Council as its preferred partner for a new retail development in Leamington Spa.

The council has selected Wilson Bowden Developments for the new shopping centre and car park in Chandos Street.

As part of the plans, approximately 175,000 sq ft of new retail space, a new 500 space shoppers' car park and a small number of apartments will be created.

The development, which will be built on a Warwick District Council car park, will be anchored with a national department store, together with a number of other units aimed at attracting new retailers. It is thought the scheme could be completed and open for trade by Christmas 2012.

A Council spokesman said it would "sustain the position of Leamington as an important retail centre and maintain its competitive edge against other centres in the area".




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He said there would be a full opportunity for public consultation, which will be publicised in "good time" to ensure the community will be involved in the process.


An outline planning application is likely to be submitted in early 2008 following the consultation.


Coun John Hammon, chairman of the Steering Group, which has the job of overseeing the project, said: "The future success of Leamington town centre depends upon continued investment and the attraction of major new retailers, including a new department store. Following an exhaustive selection process, we believe Wilson Bowden demonstrated their ability to produce a scheme that will provide what is required."


Can someone let me know why Leamington needs that much more retail space? But anyway no need to worry cos John Lewis wouldn't go there (too small a town) and if the Morley Modus scheme is developed by end of this year it can be easily completed around 2012 when this 'additional' Leamington scheme is done.

[rottersclub]

Bloody Warwickshire...

Developer unveiled for town centre planAug 2 2007


A Midland development company has been picked by Warwick District Council as its preferred partner for a new retail development in Leamington Spa.

The council has selected Wilson Bowden Developments for the new shopping centre and car park in Chandos Street.

As part of the plans, approximately 175,000 sq ft of new retail space, a new 500 space shoppers' car park and a small number of apartments will be created.

The development, which will be built on a Warwick District Council car park, will be anchored with a national department store, together with a number of other units aimed at attracting new retailers. It is thought the scheme could be completed and open for trade by Christmas 2012.

A Council spokesman said it would "sustain the position of Leamington as an important retail centre and maintain its competitive edge against other centres in the area".




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He said there would be a full opportunity for public consultation, which will be publicised in "good time" to ensure the community will be involved in the process.


An outline planning application is likely to be submitted in early 2008 following the consultation.


Coun John Hammon, chairman of the Steering Group, which has the job of overseeing the project, said: "The future success of Leamington town centre depends upon continued investment and the attraction of major new retailers, including a new department store. Following an exhaustive selection process, we believe Wilson Bowden demonstrated their ability to produce a scheme that will provide what is required."


Can someone let me know why Leamington needs that much more retail space? But anyway no need to worry cos John Lewis wouldn't go there (too small a town) and if the Morley Modus scheme is developed by end of this year it can be easily completed around 2012 when this 'additional' Leamington scheme is done.

I can see John Lewis moving to Leamington more than I can see them moving to Coventry.

[Jags]

Relocation relocation maybe (hint!!!)...

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1975/stjohnscarparknw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This will probably be the governetz scheme that was mooted about 2 years ago, aparantly they already bought the site from the council. This will be office space for yes another relocation, a hotel, apartments, restaurants and cafes. will be a nice development i think, i should be very dense and quite tall.

[rottersclub]

This will probably be the governetz scheme that was mooted about 2 years ago, aparantly they already bought the site from the council. This will be office space for yes another relocation, a hotel, apartments, restaurants and cafes. will be a nice development i think, i should be very dense and quite tall.

Here's the original story:

http://www.propertyweek.com/search_results_print_preview.asp?storycode=3066627

[timbotambo]

1hr 4mins peak time, costs £108 return on the day. Thats gonna decrease to 59 minutes or something next year, then 54 in 2009/10 and the number of services should go up from 2 to 3, then maybe 3 to 4 per hour.

Can help on that one - it's £179ish a week, depending if you have tube included. TOP TIP!!!! = IF YOU GET A WEEKLY TICKET, IT'S ONLY 45P MORE TO HAVE ZONE 1-6 TUBE FOR A WEEK ALSO!

On a night, the return time is under an hr, lots of people commute

[timbotambo]

Welcome... Don't be put off by negativity! Things are upbeat at the moment.

Agree about the plans - the plans seems to be swinging more towards office space than apartments now.

I see all things vital (Apart from the Ricoh station, which is just pointless) that are going on - Ikea, Belgrade Plaza, Friargate, Victoria Buildings, QCA moving to the Butts, Paragon Park, Ansty [Now with Ericsson], Whitley Business Park, Stoke Urban Village, etc...

Not sure that the arena station is pointless, anything which provides another station in a city is valuable to the attraction and economic status. It's important for me as I don't live far off there in Ash Green so will have postive house price effect. Also, traffic is so so bad after events that it is impossible to get anywhere. Bon Jovi was especially terrible as I drove from my old house and it was gridlock chaos. People will use the station if manned, Castle Cary faired well after Glasto so can't see any security issue etc.

One thing I have notice - house prices in past 2 years have shot up!

Link to the file I mentioned:

http://www.reform.co.uk/filestore/pdf/Urban%20crime%20rankings,%20Reform,%202006.pdf

Cov does ok, especially on house burglaries - 43 out of 57! 57 being best.

Martin, what does your bizarre signature mean??

[timbotambo]

Oh also, what's the latest of frairgate and that horrible derilict skyscraper right outside the station entrance? I hope that finds a wrecking ball along with the building over the entrace road, it's shocking. The whole lack of development makes the station feel far away from town as you have to walk for ages to get there - though the park is STUNNING for it's location, they have done amazing landscaping

[rottersclub]

Not sure that the arena station is pointless, anything which provides another station in a city is valuable to the attraction and economic status. It's important for me as I don't live far off there in Ash Green so will have postive house price effect. Also, traffic is so so bad after events that it is impossible to get anywhere. Bon Jovi was especially terrible as I drove from my old house and it was gridlock chaos. People will use the station if manned, Castle Cary faired well after Glasto so can't see any security issue etc.

One thing I have notice - house prices in past 2 years have shot up!

Link to the file I mentioned:

http://www.reform.co.uk/filestore/pdf/Urban%20crime%20rankings,%20Reform,%202006.pdf

Cov does ok, especially on house burglaries - 43 out of 57! 57 being best.

Martin, what does your bizarre signature mean??

I don't think the station at the Arena will be much help getting a lot of people away from the Arena. And the problem of all those people milling around Coventry or Nuneaton station trying to catch connecting trains... And the problem that might ensue if people try to drive to these stations to catch trains. I don't think it's been thought through, and Nuneaton->Leamington line is pretty poorly provided with stations.

The NEC is on a main line, so the trains are larger and more regular and the line is better connected.

The signature is a quote from a song called "Share It" by the group "Hatfield and the North" (One the groups from the 1970s Canterbury scene along with "Gong", "Soft Machine", Keving Ayers, and others) It's on an album called "Rotter's Club."

[rottersclub]

Oh also, what's the latest of frairgate and that horrible derilict skyscraper right outside the station entrance? I hope that finds a wrecking ball along with the building over the entrace road, it's shocking. The whole lack of development makes the station feel far away from town as you have to walk for ages to get there - though the park is STUNNING for it's location, they have done amazing landscaping

The Mies Van Der Roh tower? I think it's staying, and it's not derelict.

[rottersclub]

Can help on that one - it's £179ish a week, depending if you have tube included. TOP TIP!!!! = IF YOU GET A WEEKLY TICKET, IT'S ONLY 45P MORE TO HAVE ZONE 1-6 TUBE FOR A WEEK ALSO!

On a night, the return time is under an hr, lots of people commute

Interesting. It opens up new avenues when job hunting, and the bucks are big down in the capital.

[Scazmattaz]

News guys...

M&S Simply Food to open at the BP garage on the A45. About bloody time! I recon its gonna be packed out down there!

[rottersclub]

News guys...

M&S Simply Food to open at the BP garage on the A45. About bloody time! I recon its gonna be packed out down there!

Where is the BP garage?

[Scazmattaz]

Where is the BP garage?

Its at the Leamington Road roundabout with the A45. Stivichall.

[rottersclub]

Its at the Leamington Road roundabout with the A45. Stivichall.

There's currently a Tesco there! Competition for them? Are they going to have to build a new building?

[Scazmattaz]

There's currently a Tesco there! Competition for them? Are they going to have to build a new building?

What Tesco is there? Where is it?

[Jags]

I know where u mean. the BP garage opposite the harvester and the peugeot garage. Thats a fantastic site for them there, your rite it will always be busy. Theres plenty of land on the side there.

[rottersclub]

What Tesco is there? Where is it?


The BP garage's pay kiosk is actually a small Tesco Express.

[rottersclub]

I know where u mean. the BP garage opposite the harvester and the peugeot garage. Thats a fantastic site for them there, your rite it will always be busy. Theres plenty of land on the side there.

They've built houses on all that land now. MacDonalds tried for years to get a place there, but got turned down everytime. Unless they're going to re-use the Tesco Xpress, I doubt they'd get permission for another supermarket on the site - the access is absolutely horrendous.

[Scazmattaz]

They've built houses on all that land now. MacDonalds tried for years to get a place there, but got turned down everytime. Unless they're going to re-use the Tesco Xpress, I doubt they'd get permission for another supermarket on the site - the access is absolutely horrendous.

Im confused i've never seen a Tesco Express in the entirity of Coventry. Its something that amazes me that the convenience store market offering is so weak around here.

The picture in the Telegraph still shows the BP 'FOOD' store thingy that they had when i last went past a few months ago?

[rottersclub]

Im confused i've never seen a Tesco Express in the entirity of Coventry. Its something that amazes me that the convenience store market offering is so weak around here.

The picture in the Telegraph still shows the BP 'FOOD' store thingy that they had when i last went past a few months ago?

I'm talking crap - it was a small safeway thingy a couple of years ago - before Safeway was bought by Morrisons.

From what I remember, it's tiny...

Definitely a good spot for something like that - it's pretty prosperous round there.

[Scazmattaz]

I'm talking crap - it was a small safeway thingy a couple of years ago - before Safeway was bought by Morrisons.

From what I remember, it's tiny...

Definitely a good spot for something like that - it's pretty prosperous round there.

Okay, yeh i would even de-tour there on the way home from Bedfordshire, its a great location and if they get some paint down the parking could be sorted easily too.

It says its gonna be open 24/7 so im hoping you can buy food 24/7 too, that'd be great!

[Dr Pepper]

Im confused i've never seen a Tesco Express in the entirity of Coventry. Its something that amazes me that the convenience store market offering is so weak around here.

The picture in the Telegraph still shows the BP 'FOOD' store thingy that they had when i last went past a few months ago?

There is a Tesco Express in Jubilee Crescent. Used to use it a lot when we rented up there.

[rottersclub]

According to the Telegraph, work on Friar's Road is going to be starting in a couple of months...

[Scazmattaz]

According to the Telegraph, work on Friar's Road is going to be starting in a couple of months...

Yep, when i walk past tomorrow im gonna give them a call and see how much the shared ownership stuff is gonna cost... however the flat market in coventry has already suffered a loss of value this year and i doubt its gonna grow much in many areas.

Im hoping its about 120K for 2 bed or alternatively like 80k for a 1 bed with parking space.

[rottersclub]

Yep, when i walk past tomorrow im gonna give them a call and see how much the shared ownership stuff is gonna cost... however the flat market in coventry has already suffered a loss of value this year and i doubt its gonna grow much in many areas.

Im hoping its about 120K for 2 bed or alternatively like 80k for a 1 bed with parking space.

I can't really see the need for it, myself - the city centre is close to residential areas.

By the way, I did a search on Rightmove.co.uk for apartments in Coventry, and the cheapest was around the 150,000K mark... Share ownership in Earlsdon was 150,000K

There doesn't seem to be many one bedroomed apartments around, and Electric Wharf was more expensive, along with Priory Place.

Let us know how your query goes.

[Scazmattaz]

I need a payrise god damn it!!! An extra 30K a year might make me able to buy an apartment... this is rediculous.

Good news for Hospital public transport: parking charges up to £10 max, £3 min :)

[rottersclub]

I need a payrise god damn it!!! An extra 30K a year might make me able to buy an apartment... this is rediculous.

Good news for Hospital public transport: parking charges up to £10 max, £3 min :)

Hospital thing is disgusting. Fucking con. I'd refuse to pay it and park elsewhere and walk - it's still a damn sight better than using the fucking buses.

[timbotambo]

Hospital thing is disgusting. Fucking con. I'd refuse to pay it and park elsewhere and walk - it's still a damn sight better than using the fucking buses.

Best place to try is the other side of the highway, but it's one hell of a walk!! Reminds me of traying to get to an airport, it looks like Reykjavik airport from the front

[timbotambo]

The Mies Van Der Roh tower? I think it's staying, and it's not derelict.

Not sure what it's called, but the huge one outside station front with the derelict ground floor. On a sub-note, the huge visualisation attached to the side of the tower showing friargate shows all the buildings completely different. Interestingly, also shows the overspill car park built on in central six, as well as were JJB, American Golf and BK currently is.

[rottersclub]

Not sure what it's called, but the huge one outside station front with the derelict ground floor. On a sub-note, the huge visualisation attached to the side of the tower showing friargate shows all the buildings completely different. Interestingly, also shows the overspill car park built on in central six, as well as were JJB, American Golf and BK currently is.

It's called Station Tower, and it was going to be refurbished some years back into apartments. There were some businesses using it a couple of years back, not sure if they still are!

I think it's staying, but it looks like it might be modified...

Yeah, the car park and the ugly retail shacks are going!!! Shame they can't flatten the rest of Central Six!!!

[rottersclub]

Best place to try is the other side of the highway, but it's one hell of a walk!! Reminds me of traying to get to an airport, it looks like Reykjavik airport from the front

I park on Woodfield Road... Walk in.

It's disgusting - it cost me a fortune to park there while the wife had a baby earlier this year. Yeah, get the bus - 2:00 in the morning with loads of stuff to carry. I felt like I'd had a gun in my back and robbed.

I've gone private now, so hopefully won't have to use that place again.

[Dr Pepper]

The canopy of the Herbert extention is starting to go up. I'll take a picture when I get a chance.

[rottersclub]

Has Belgrade Plaza really started? The site looks deserted still.

[Dr Pepper]

Must be on a tea break....

[rottersclub]

Don't tell me it was just a false start...

[rottersclub]

Work has begun on the Ansty site (Where Marconi would have ended up if they hadn't gone down the pan.)

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=ansty-site-all-set-for-take-off%26method=full%26objectid=19599915%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

This is very good - it looks like Cov may well be on its way to becoming a major centre for hi-tech industries, what with this and the Whitley/Jaguar business park aimed at similar sorts of industries.

[inspired]

Work has begun on the Ansty site (Where Marconi would have ended up if they hadn't gone down the pan.)

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=ansty-site-all-set-for-take-off%26method=full%26objectid=19599915%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

This is very good - it looks like Cov may well be on its way to becoming a major centre for hi-tech industries, what with this and the Whitley/Jaguar business park aimed at similar sorts of industries.

will coventry be expanding east-wards towards rugby?

[rottersclub]

will coventry be expanding east-wards towards rugby?

Don't think so, but there's plans for a lot of housing behind the new hospital.

From what I've read, one possible place for new housing is the Cov->Nuneaton corridor. Sort of makes sense, as it's already built up around there.

I'm not sure where else housing could go in Cov.

[Dr Pepper]

Not a great picture but you can see the frame. Plenty of wood thankfully.

http://i9.tinypic.com/62qzqcg.jpg

[Jags]

Thats started to go up pretty quick, i walked past if about three weeks ago and there was nothing there.

The lunn poly building is taking ages to be knocked down isnt it, they coned off half the road today aswell, i was expecting to finish work and see the building half gone.

Has the masterplan been stated yet for the city centre, I like the idea of this masterplan, that means there is effectivly 4 masterplans for the city centre at the same time. Friargate, swanswell, Butts and the retail core. Oh and Belgrade plaza.

Any movement of the victoria buildings or the Axa development or millenium view?

[Scazmattaz]

Hey guys! Glad to hear the TM is out for the Belgrade, i think this may well speed up cos the tenants are already signed and wont be too happy about the delay to finishing of works, they'll wanna be open asap.

Its interesting to see that Premier Travel Inn are also trying to open a hotel next to the Showcase, only 50 rooms though.

There's also the hotels are the RICOH, both budget-ish, one will be about 8 stories and the other i haven't seen but apparently the former is 2 star and the latter 3. Additionally one of the hotels will be run by an operator 'new to the UK', so that'll be interesting!

Id assume Travellodge are interested in the city too since they have no centrally located hotels around here.

[Erebus555]

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

Sadly, that's all I could get.

[Dr Pepper]

ANOTHER distribution centre then.

[Scazmattaz]

Yeh i'd imagine so, or maybe some 'business park' style development, cos we aint got many of those!!!

[Jags]

Hey guys! Glad to hear the TM is out for the Belgrade, i think this may well speed up cos the tenants are already signed and wont be too happy about the delay to finishing of works, they'll wanna be open asap.

Its interesting to see that Premier Travel Inn are also trying to open a hotel next to the Showcase, only 50 rooms though.

There's also the hotels are the RICOH, both budget-ish, one will be about 8 stories and the other i haven't seen but apparently the former is 2 star and the latter 3. Additionally one of the hotels will be run by an operator 'new to the UK', so that'll be interesting!

Id assume Travellodge are interested in the city too since they have no centrally located hotels around here.

I think the new hotel operator that is new to the uk is going to be a new brand by Hilton, i read somewhere a few weeks back that they are opening one in coventry

[Jags]

Hey guys! Glad to hear the TM is out for the Belgrade, i think this may well speed up cos the tenants are already signed and wont be too happy about the delay to finishing of works, they'll wanna be open asap.

Its interesting to see that Premier Travel Inn are also trying to open a hotel next to the Showcase, only 50 rooms though.

There's also the hotels are the RICOH, both budget-ish, one will be about 8 stories and the other i haven't seen but apparently the former is 2 star and the latter 3. Additionally one of the hotels will be run by an operator 'new to the UK', so that'll be interesting!

Id assume Travellodge are interested in the city too since they have no centrally located hotels around here.

What is a TM?

[rottersclub]

ANOTHER distribution centre then.

Prologis Park in Keresley is mixed - distribution & a lot of offices.

[jonbon88]

does any one know what’s going on with priory hall. its got this lift system around it? they could just be cleaning the windows but it seems a bit much for just cleaning windows.

[Dr Pepper]

does any one know what’s going on with priory hall. its got this lift system around it? they could just be cleaning the windows but it seems a bit much for just cleaning windows.

According to a notice on the fence it's just "remedial" work. Not coming down just yet then.

[jonbon88]

According to a notice on the fence it's just "remedial" work. Not coming down just yet then.

well i guess it means window cleaning then.
but i don’t think the building to bad any way if it got a reclad and wasn’t student accommodation it would be a nice building

[inspired]

i was driving to work this morning along the dual carriageway past gallagher retail park. There seems to be a couple of diggers and temp buildings on the embankment next to the canal on the side of the dual carriage-way. Anyone know whats going on. I remember some time back that they were looking at this site to build a new police headquarters around there, but not really sure about that..

[rottersclub]

i was driving to work this morning along the dual carriageway past gallagher retail park. There seems to be a couple of diggers and temp buildings on the embankment next to the canal on the side of the dual carriage-way. Anyone know whats going on. I remember some time back that they were looking at this site to build a new police headquarters around there, but not really sure about that..

Yeah, I read about the police HQ as well - a replacement for the old Stoney Stanton station underneath that tower on the bend. I believe the embankment there is actually a huge pile of rubble.

A bit farther down the A444 they're building a business park of manufacturing units/retail/garage.

[Scazmattaz]

I have updated the Belgrade Plaza construction thread with some images from the planning application.

British Waterways are looking at a small site near the Upper Stoke roundabout on the A444, likely uses are residential apartments.

[Dr Pepper]

All gone! The houses were taken down as they were a magnet for squatters and arsonists.

http://i18.tinypic.com/4yk0y7s.jpg



Now the site is cleared it looks rather small for a tower of flats and parking.

http://i10.tinypic.com/4xptfzs.jpg

[Scazmattaz]

What is a TM?

Traffic Management! Basically cones and temporary diversions and stuff.

[rottersclub]

Plans for apartment blocks in the suburbs - a tower with 42 apartments & other blocks.

(Whitley village, which is near the interchange at the Jaguar HQ).


http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=residents-pledge-to-fight-plans%26method=full%26objectid=19643292%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

[Scazmattaz]

Sounds good! Id like to see some renders and CGIs of this

[rottersclub]

Sounds good! Id like to see some renders and CGIs of this

It must be pretty tall if the residents are up in arms about it. Sounds good. Can't see it getting permission, though, if it is tall. Although the flats in Stivichal (Near war memorial park) are highly desirable!

[Scazmattaz]

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/content/city-development-directorate/planning-%26-transportation/planning-and-transportation/core-strategy.en

[Jags]

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

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


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

[Dr Pepper]

Where abouts in Cov is this based?

[rottersclub]

Priory place - looks like it's a flop. MYO is struggling, and so are the other businesses there. There's a huge article about it in the Coventry Times. Very few people go down there, they can't get much evening trade, and not many tourists go there.

One chap - the owner of Flamingoes - even comments that he thinks the ringroad is part of the problems. MYO claim parking is a problem - but there's a large car park just down the road.

I guess Millennium View won't happen if there's no trade down there.

[rottersclub]

Where abouts in Cov is this based?

I have a feeling it's at Prologis in Keresley.

[Dr Pepper]

Priory place - looks like it's a flop. MYO is struggling, and so are the other businesses there. There's a huge article about it in the Coventry Times. Very few people go down there, they can't get much evening trade, and not many tourists go there.

One chap - the owner of Flamingoes - even comments that he thinks the ringroad is part of the problems. MYO claim parking is a problem - but there's a large car park just down the road.

I guess Millennium View won't happen if there's no trade down there.

Yeah I read that then went out the same night to Priory Place, bit on the quiet side. Then we went to the old fire station. Quiet as well. Odd decor in there, the seats are uncomfortable and it looks like a posh hairdressers. I was impressed with Dogma though. Its like a Birmingham trendy bar simulator. :D

[rottersclub]

Yeah I read that then went out the same night to Priory Place, bit on the quiet side. Then we went to the old fire station. Quiet as well. Odd decor in there, the seats are uncomfortable and it looks like a posh hairdressers. I was impressed with Dogma though. Its like a Birmingham trendy bar simulator. :D

MYO is a crushing disappointment - all the hype, and it's just a glorified buffet and a chavvy bar underneath. I've been to MYO twice with work, the first it was OK, the 2nd time (Last month) the food was awful, and we were incensed that they added a service charge - it's BUFFET!!!!

Priory place is another White Elephant as far as I'm concerned. Without any main pedestrian or car thoroughfare nearby, and not enough bars/shops to make it worth walking to, it's always going be dead. It's hemmed into a street of empty stores and a hotel - the businesses there are good stuff, the sort of stuff Cov lacks, but it would appear that people in Coventry aren't interested in breaching the ringroad.

I've only been into Cov a few times this years in the evening, but both times I was amazed at how deserted it was - and this was fridays.

Actually went into town today - THREE UNITS are closed in West Orchards, opposite Virgin, and the place was deserted. Market way is filled with cheap stores that are all closing and up for let. Frankly, I'd be quite happy if they demolished the whole precinct. Spon Street is looking awful as well. It's quite depressing - it looks like it's being run down now, with temporary stores, clearance stores filling most of the units that re-open.

Went to the Basil Spence exhibition, but it was a huge disappointment - the screens weren't working, and neither were the headphones.

Been to Dogma a few times - I like it, one of the few decent places in Coventry, but haven't been out much since the baby arrived!

Belgrade Plaza will wipe out Priory place - it has parking straight off the ringroad, and also an attraction nearby with good links. Priory place was built with the best of intentions, but has failed. This is the SECOND attempt to make a development to cash in on the tourists at the Cathedral - Cathedral Lanes was built to be filled with specialist/upmarket tourist type stores, and that failed.

[timbotambo]

Priory place? where's that? I thought it was the bit between the motor museum and the bbc office, under the arches. Is there something else I'm missing? Been to the pub in old fire station, nice but pricey.

Best bar is Liquid in the horrid shopping walkway thing.

The AllSports building in the retail park next to station is finally being converted by the way, anyone know to what? Odd location tucked in a corner next to TKMaxx.

[rottersclub]

Priory place? where's that? I thought it was the bit between the motor museum and the bbc office, under the arches. Is there something else I'm missing? Been to the pub in old fire station, nice but pricey.

Best bar is Liquid in the horrid shopping walkway thing.

The AllSports building in the retail park next to station is finally being converted by the way, anyone know to what? Odd location tucked in a corner next to TKMaxx.

Yes, Priory place is the new development and little museum dedicated to the original Cathedral. There are four bar/restaurants there. It seems it's not been the success they hoped it would be.

Allsports is becoming another cheap clothing store (Peacocks?).

I went to "escape" once, but not my thing. Too chavvy.

[Scazmattaz]

Yes, Priory place is the new development and little museum dedicated to the original Cathedral. There are four bar/restaurants there. It seems it's not been the success they hoped it would be.

Allsports is becoming another cheap clothing store (Peacocks?).

I went to "escape" once, but not my thing. Too chavvy.

Peacocks have sub-divided the unit, so i assume they are getting another 'cheapo' retailer in addition.

We could do with that Sports Soccer opening under Woolworths, and as my collegue says removal of the parking at West Orchards and a mega Coventry T.K.Maxx up there to keep the chavs happy. Then with a higher level of footfall due to these 2 simple changes we could start pushing for more large-scale redevelopment.

[rottersclub]

Peacocks have sub-divided the unit, so i assume they are getting another 'cheapo' retailer in addition.

We could do with that Sports Soccer opening under Woolworths, and as my collegue says removal of the parking at West Orchards and a mega Coventry T.K.Maxx up there to keep the chavs happy. Then with a higher level of footfall due to these 2 simple changes we could start pushing for more large-scale redevelopment.

If you remove parking at West Orchard, a lot of people will stop coming in. Replace it with another big chavvy store??!?

In town on Sat. I noticed that the walkway between the precinct and West Orchards has 3 empty shop units in it now. And market way seems to be all up "to let" again with the discount stores all holding sales.

We've got to the point now where we have little or no reason to go to the city centre, especially with the rip off parking prices. 3 quid for just over an hour? One of the shops the wife wanted to visit had closed down.

This is a city that lines up festing wheely bins on the route into one of its "landmark" developments. Yes, opposite Nandos, on your way into Priory place, walk past the lovely smelly, fly infested wheely bins. I don't think Coventry is worth spending money on.

[BobbyB]

Coventry as a shopping destination of choice is sadly lacking, a point that all on here will agree with .Lots of empty units ,cheap chavvy shops and in places dismal architecture and dingy walkways.I believe it will improve but at a painfully slow pace.In Leamington on Sunday which offers a completely diff shopping experience,although the cheap chavvy ,discount and phone shops have a higly visible presence here too.
I view and read the comments on this site but only occasionaly post, when it appears certain posters are about to self explode with the despairing posts about the City centre!!!!
There does not appear to be any useful purpose in bleating about the lack of this or that shop over and over again,we all know that Cov is not Brum or Leamington or Bristol Or Leeds etc etc .We have to big up it,s good points and hope that future developmemts will inspire a better range of shops/ammenities etc.
I think the plus points are Cov,s location to other shopping centres enabling us to enjoy the variety that these places have to offer(Along with occasional trips into Cov!)

[rottersclub]

Coventry as a shopping destination of choice is sadly lacking, a point that all on here will agree with .Lots of empty units ,cheap chavvy shops and in places dismal architecture and dingy walkways.I believe it will improve but at a painfully slow pace.In Leamington on Sunday which offers a completely diff shopping experience,although the cheap chavvy ,discount and phone shops have a higly visible presence here too.
I view and read the comments on this site but only occasionaly post, when it appears certain posters are about to self explode with the despairing posts about the City centre!!!!
There does not appear to be any useful purpose in bleating about the lack of this or that shop over and over again,we all know that Cov is not Brum or Leamington or Bristol Or Leeds etc etc .We have to big up it,s good points and hope that future developmemts will inspire a better range of shops/ammenities etc.
I think the plus points are Cov,s location to other shopping centres enabling us to enjoy the variety that these places have to offer(Along with occasional trips into Cov!)

Nah, I'm not about to explode. I like the old bits of Coventry and the new Cathedral (I went into it this weekend, and even as an atheist found it breathtaking, admiration of Spence's talent for bringing together such an incredible and artistic building, not his faith. Take a look at the bottom of the columns - they're not supporting and are narrowed down at the bottom! Spence originally wanted glass balls, but the costs were too high.)

BUT...

The sad thing is, I feel increasingly alienated from the city, as do most of my friends and neighbours who are moving away.

While I very much love living in Earlsdon - we use to facilities there far more than the city centre - Millsys Sunday lunch... Yum - it's a worry that the sort of trouble that's ruined (IMHO) the city centre is moving up our way... Certainly the amount of trouble caused by yobs has increased over the years.

[BobbyB]

Unfotunately the chav culture has infected virtually every town/city in the UK.
Earlsdon has featured quite heavily in the local news re vandalism and drunken behaviour-downside of having bars and pubs mixed in with residential .

[rottersclub]

Unfotunately the chav culture has infected virtually every town/city in the UK.
Earlsdon has featured quite heavily in the local news re vandalism and drunken behaviour-downside of having bars and pubs mixed in with residential .

We're a good distance away from the pubs, up in the leafy avenues, but there has been trouble in the lower bit and on the high street, and a lot of local people don't like the changes - the main problem is the Wetherspoon pub, which attracts chavs and troublemakers. Other places like Millsys and Earlsdon Cottage and the Oak don't have any trouble (And also both do nice food).

Fridays and Saturdays the high street is absolute chaos.

[jonbon88]

many of the issues which have been raised are very important to sort out and i think most of them can and well be fixed. we are on the edge of getting a lot of new developments and investment, Belgrade plaza is just the start.

Coventry has a lot of opportunities, the chance to add more then 500,000 sq foot of retail, endless developments of offices as well as more bars, cafes and restaurants, this want happen over night but it will happen

when millennium view get off the ground i think this will help priory place by bring more people to the area with the lure of new shops cafes and even more bars, and im hoping it will help trinity street to reyuvinate itself. also i think it would be good if the cathedral area converted some of them old building into bars and restaurants as well as building some thing on the area at the back of cathedral lanes which i think used to be a cafe this would all help to create a batter link with priory place. as it would create a sort of pub walk through the hart of the city centre from the high street to corporation street.

[rottersclub]

many of the issues which have been raised are very important to sort out and i think most of them can and well be fixed. we are on the edge of getting a lot of new developments and investment, Belgrade plaza is just the start.



Yes, Belgrade Plaza is very important - it's something that Coventry has needed for years to capitalise on the numbers of people who go to the Belgrade theatre. Priory place doesn't work because it's a backwater and hidden away - it annoys me because I think it's a fantastic development, but I always said it lacks an attraction that draws people there. Compare it to Brindley Place - which has the arena and Symphony Hall, not to mention large office developments.

In the evening PP is dead. I feel so sorry for the businesses there - they've been led to believe that there's going to be a stream of people between the Cathedral and motor museum.

Coventry has a lot of opportunities, the chance to add more then 500,000 sq foot of retail, endless developments of offices as well as more bars, cafes and restaurants, this want happen over night but it will happen


These will only come here if they think there is business here; people who work in these new offices will not live in Coventry due to the poor housing stock & undesirable nature of most of the city's areas. This needs to be addressed FAST, otherwise Coventry will be end up being the major employer for the area, but with few people who live here.

when millennium view get off the ground i think this will help priory place by bring more people to the area with the lure of new shops cafes and even more bars, and im hoping it will help trinity street to reyuvinate itself. also i think it would be good if the cathedral area converted some of them old building into bars and restaurants as well as building some thing on the area at the back of cathedral lanes which i think used to be a cafe this would all help to create a batter link with priory place. as it would create a sort of pub walk through the hart of the city centre from the high street to corporation street.

Okay. Why would anyone open up more bars or shops when the existing ones are failing? MYO is struggling as well. The business isn't there, and Millennium View has already been cancelled once and redesigned. I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon, especially as contains a large amount of bar space.

Priory Place took a long time to fill up, and MYO was delayed for a couple of years because the owner was cautious. That they are not doing very well has huge ramifications for Coventry.

Cathedral Lanes originally had a cafe at the back, and very nice it was. (Thanks Mum and Dad for the meals there when I was a student!) But it had no business. The shops in Cathedral Lanes started out as upmarket types of tourist stores, but they all closed. There was no business. The place was half empty for years. That's why ended up being Wilkinsons.

There have been plans to turn the old County courthouse into a bar, but they were canned years ago, and there's been no sign of anything else happening, but it's been mooted. That awful pub on the corner, opposite the Golden Cross (Which has closed down for refurbishment into a "trendy bar"!?!) has been closed for a while. The Litten Tree closed down and has not reopened.

I think converting the area around the Cathedral into bars/pubs is a terrible idea. I'd rather stuff that down some shithole street like Corporation Street. The drunken yobs have already ruined Spon Street. Where pubs go, crap takeaways & vomit stains follow.

I admire your optimism, and I think Belgrade Plaza will be OK due to the fact it's got the theatre trade, but I don't see anything happening elsewhere. Cov City centre has no attractions other than the obvious tourist ones, and it will never get any sort of cultural venue because of Warwick Arts centre being so close by. And what's worrying is that Friargate and other office developments are out of the city centre, clearly aimed at commuters, and not hampered by lousy access the ringroad causes.

What's completely clear to me is that throwing money at the city and trying to regenerate the centre isn't working as there are fundamental problems that need to be fixed first, and each development seems to be another fragment that's failed. The city is littered with them.

My plan is this: get rid of Coventry. Demolish the whole city centre apart from the medieval bits & the new Cathedral and turn it into a park with the Cathedral quarter and some gardens (Perhaps fashioned into the streetplan of the old city) Turn the ringroad into a giant canal or something, and then make Coventry into part of Warwick. Call the whole thing the City of Warwick and be done with it. Then Warwick Uni will make sense.:lol:

I think Cov has got to about as far as it will get with its current stagnant population. Perhaps when Marconi was growing and employing the sort of people the city wants to attract - hi tech, modern industry workers - it began to look up, but that has all gone now, reduced to 300 people in Ericsson and a few more in Telent (Which is moving to Warwick).

[jonbon88]

how can you even say that. i agree get ride of the ring road but the rest it rubbish, in a few years Coventry could be a thriving city both at night and in the day. we will soon have a city centre master plan that will address many of the centres issues, hopefully with dramatic changes to the cities retail core breathing new life into Coventry. if Coventry builds an impressive shopping area with new stores including a major department store then the city will go from strength to strength and i can see this happing in the not to distant future. great thing are to come as i have said before.

Leeds council employ a city centre architect which plans out his vision of Leeds and then makes it happen i just wish i could do this for Coventry.

oh yeah and i was thinking more restaurants and cafes for the cathedral area then bars came across the wrong way.

[rottersclub]

how can you even say that. i agree get ride of the ring road but the rest it rubbish, in a few years Coventry could be a thriving city both at night and in the day. we will soon have a city centre master plan that will address many of the centres issues, hopefully with dramatic changes to the cities retail core breathing new life into Coventry. if Coventry builds an impressive shopping area with new stores including a major department store then the city will go from strength to strength and i can see this happing in the not to distant future. great thing are to come as i have said before.


You don't understand - it's not a problem of bricks and mortar.

Why do you think the council are so keen to add an extra 100,000 folk to the population?


Leeds council employ a city centre architect which plans out his vision of Leeds and then makes it happen i just wish i could do this for Coventry.


Coventry was one of the first cities to have "City Architect" and this post was created to sort out the problems caused by rapid expansion of the population and the limitations of the pre-war medieval city. The post in question was responsible for much of the destruction after the war and the mess we have now.


oh yeah and i was thinking more restaurants and cafes for the cathedral area then bars came across the wrong way.

Yay, now we agree - decent restaurants definitely. Someone did plan to turn one of the medieval timber cottages into a restaurant, but it never happened. I heard that someone was planning to turn the county court into a restaurant/bar.

[rottersclub]

jonbon,

I suggest you read this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Labour-Twentieth-Century-City/dp/0951129201/ref=sr_1_1/026-0312057-9289261?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187648592&sr=8-1

It's a collection of papers detailing Coventry's 20th century history, and it was written when the car industry (And others). It highlights certain aspects of Coventry that you may find hard to accept. There are reasons why places like Priory Place succeed in say, Leicester, but fail in Coventry.

[jonbon88]

i realise that coventry has these problems. but leamington has managed to develop off the wealth of the city and surrounding areas if coventry pulls its socks up it could become the centre of attention once again. there’s no reason why coventry cant achieve this after all it has a larger population to feed off.

i also agree coventry need to expand it population, but first it need the office work to develop intern improving the city centre and attracting people to stay and then u have a growing population and a positive spiral of development.
as they say it can only get better

[sleslie48]

Not to mention a huge student population. I know students are more of a problem than benefit sometimes. However, students these days (myself and all the people I know at uni) demand good quality leisure facilities and if there were decent bars, shops, restraunts etc the affulent population and students would provide more than enough catchment for this.

[rottersclub]

i also agree coventry need to expand it population, but first it need the office work to develop intern improving the city centre and attracting people to stay and then u have a growing population and a positive spiral of development.
as they say it can only get better

I think it's more like a Catch-22.:)

[rottersclub]

Not to mention a huge student population. I know students are more of a problem than benefit sometimes. However, students these days (myself and all the people I know at uni) demand good quality leisure facilities and if there were decent bars, shops, restraunts etc the affulent population and students would provide more than enough catchment for this.

Students won't use restaurants or upmarket shops. I couldn't afford it when I was a student (And I was a student for 7 years!). They're even worse off these days than back then, and I got a grant of 6,000 a year during my final three years! I used to wait for my parents to come down and treat me (In those days there was a choice of about 3 places!)

Remember that over half of Cov's student population is in Warwick - which is mainly post-grad - and the majority of Warwick students live on Campus or in Leamington/Kenilworth. When I was a student there, very few of my classmates lived in Coventry or even came into Coventry. Those that did tended to live in Earlsdon.

[rottersclub]

i realise that coventry has these problems. but leamington has managed to develop off the wealth of the city and surrounding areas if coventry pulls its socks up it could become the centre of attention once again. there’s no reason why coventry cant achieve this after all it has a larger population to feed off.

i also agree coventry need to expand it population, but first it need the office work to develop intern improving the city centre and attracting people to stay and then u have a growing population and a positive spiral of development.
as they say it can only get better

Read this:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/rb/rb227.html

This looks at all UK towns over 150,000 population and creates a network based on financial, professional and creative services in each town and uses clients to create out a network of how they are linked.

Coventry is a major city in UK terms.

Yet it does not appear in the network. These industries are key indicators for the success of a city.

It's not as simple as throwing up a few offices. Coventry has to basically try to get industries/services that are already heavily present 25 miles up the road.

[Scazmattaz]

Students won't use restaurants or upmarket shops. I couldn't afford it when I was a student (And I was a student for 7 years!). They're even worse off these days than back then, and I got a grant of 6,000 a year during my final three years! I used to wait for my parents to come down and treat me (In those days there was a choice of about 3 places!)

Remember that over half of Cov's student population is in Warwick - which is mainly post-grad - and the majority of Warwick students live on Campus or in Leamington/Kenilworth. When I was a student there, very few of my classmates lived in Coventry or even came into Coventry. Those that did tended to live in Earlsdon.

When i was a student me and my hall mates were all 'loaded' (or so it seemed) and i couldn't believe how damn middle class Birmingham Uni was, i was one of the only ones without a car, who didn't goto Harvey Nichols once a month and actually had to pay off my own credit card 'mummy will pay for that if i tell her it was for a meal etc', it was crazy!!!

[LifeOnMarsBar]

Call me cynical but i think Rois Ali is cleverer than we give him credit for (he's always in the newspaper)...i'm quite sure parking is and has been an issue in the area for a while and i suspect that they're using this quiet period whilst the students have gone home to capitalise on it - has Dogma, MYO + others really been so dead (in the evenings) up until the student summer hols??? i'm not convinced.

IMHO - What Priory Place really needs more besides a better car park + better car park prices is a proper Coach Park + tourist marketing to increase the day time customers. (the retired folk who have leisure time + cash). That would make the cultural quarter (Herbert Gallery, Cathedral + Transport Museum) a Coventry resource that would be far more easily accessible. Get teh coaches in and get the tourists in.

...also think the bad weather hasn't helped the 'al fresco' priory Place experience...

[rottersclub]

Call me cynical but i think Rois Ali is cleverer than we give him credit for...i'm quite sure parking is and has been an issue in the area for a while and i suspect that they're using this quiet period whilst the students have gone home to capitalise on it - has Dogma, MYO + others really been so dead (in the evenings) up until the student summer hols??? i'm not convinced.

IMHO - What Priory Place really needs more besides a better car park + better car park prices is a proper Coach Park + tourist marketing to increase the day time customers. (the retired folk who have leisure time + cash). That would make the cultural quarter (Herbert Gallery, Cathedral + Transport Museum) a Coventry resource that would be far more easily accessible. Get teh coaches in and get the tourists in.

...also think the bad weather hasn't helped the 'al fresco' priory Place experience...

I've been to MYO twice and it's been empty both times. It's a big restaurant as well, with more staff than customers! I've been to Flamingo and we were the only people in there - a number of times. Dogma's restaurant is generally empty on weekends.

Tourists aren't the key - Cov doesn't get enough to sustain these businesses. They've tried before and it didn't work. What about in the evening? The place is dead. Saturday afternoon in decent weather - it's dead. Tourists come on coach trips - they stop for maybe an hour to look at the cathedal and then bugger off.

[LifeOnMarsBar]

...Tourists aren't the key - Cov doesn't get enough to sustain these businesses. They've tried before and it didn't work. What about in the evening? The place is dead. Saturday afternoon in decent weather - it's dead. Tourists come on coach trips - they stop for maybe an hour to look at the cathedal and then bugger off.

i wasn't implying that they were the 'key' but rather part of the overall solution. Cov doesn't get enough tourists 'at the moment' - so Coventry needs to develop this. It needs a properly structured tourist policy - with defined and organised tourst trails and tourist guides - people will eat where they're led to and the one's that bugger off probably don't know about the gallery and the museum

[LifeOnMarsBar]

...they probably also bugger off after an hour because they're on a tight schedule which includes the surrounding coventry attractions (stratford/warwick) - if the gallery and museum were added to the attractions list then coventry would deserve it's own dedicated excursion with more time to explore the surrounding area around the cultural quarter.

[rottersclub]

i wasn't implying that they were the 'key' but rather part of the overall solution. Cov doesn't get enough tourists 'at the moment' - so Coventry needs to develop this. It needs a properly structured tourist policy - with defined and organised tourst trails and tourist guides - people will eat where they're led to and the one's that bugger off probably don't know about the gallery and the museum

Sorry, I was in a rush this morning to get to work, sort out the baby, etc, etc, so I only gave your posting a cursory glance.

Yes, I agree. The prob with much of Cov's attractions is that they're split apart and their environment isn't that great around them. Part of the original plan for rebuilding the city consisted of making squares/features out of the more important old building... This didn't seem to happen.

I had a small guide book (From about 10 years ago) that had all the attractions and old bits of interest in Cov and a walk to take them all in. I reckon there's enough of interest to make it a day, including stopping off for lunch somewhere. Some places - like the Cathedral and Guild Hall - definitely need a longer visit to take them in completely. I reckon with some work they could make Cov into a "weekend break" type of place. There's certainly more history here than most other UK cities, even if there's little in evidence on the surface.

My guide's out of date now - there's Priory Place, the museum, the undercrofts (I find it fascinating that they left this and built over the top, but encased it in glass like a giant display) to add and soon the new Herbert Gallery - the motor museum can definitely take up a good few hours, perhaps more.

[timbotambo]

This thread appears to have gone off topic somewhat! Maybe it's best discussed in a separate thread?

Ok so Coventry has problems, what city doesn't? i.e London has Hackney less that 3 miles as the crow flies from the most expensive apartments in the country, it's full of arrogant t*ats and louts, and traffic and pollution is atrocious!

At lease Coventry has ambition and plans, rather than dire places such as Tamworth or Nuneaton. Plans may take time to come to fruition, but that's called a business case. You can't change the city unless you get a return on investment.

Friargate will be the start of big things to come I reckon, watch the Litten tree get a new tenant and the quality of retailers improve and feed through the town. Demolish the horrid Hertford Street to open it up again, chase out the pound shops, and expose the wonderful Lloyds TSB bank again (have you actually noticed what they stuck to the side of this building, makes you want to weep) and it will be job done.........ish

[rottersclub]

...they probably also bugger off after an hour because they're on a tight schedule which includes the surrounding coventry attractions (stratford/warwick) - if the gallery and museum were added to the attractions list then coventry would deserve it's own dedicated excursion with more time to explore the surrounding area around the cultural quarter.

Did you ever see the "Godiva City" exhibition they had in the Hebert? I took some friends to it years ago and they thought it was excellent. Not sure whether it's still there.

Last time I went to Brum (On a saturday) there was an art exhibition in one of the galleries. Do we ever get stuff like this in Cov? I must admit, I never see any publicity for anything.

[rottersclub]

When i was a student me and my hall mates were all 'loaded' (or so it seemed) and i couldn't believe how damn middle class Birmingham Uni was, i was one of the only ones without a car, who didn't goto Harvey Nichols once a month and actually had to pay off my own credit card 'mummy will pay for that if i tell her it was for a meal etc', it was crazy!!!

That certainly wasn't the case for me when I was a student, which was from 1989 to 1997. I was perhaps the odd one out in that I was getting a 6K bursary to do my PhD, but even then it was tight. My parents are wealthy (Well, my Mum still is, but it's all tied up in funds) but I never had a car or anything other than a treat to a meal out when they came down to visit! Most of my fellow students were below the breadline.

[LifeOnMarsBar]

Did you ever see the "Godiva City" exhibition they had in the Hebert? I took some friends to it years ago and they thought it was excellent. Not sure whether it's still there.



Was that the one that showed Coventry's history from medieval to ribbon and watch making to WW2...etc ??? if it was then 'yep' i really liked that too...i think all the displays are currently in storage until the new extension is finished. I think the extension includes a history centre.

i'm really looking forward to the touring galleries that will now include coventry on their itinerary

[Scazmattaz]

That certainly wasn't the case for me when I was a student, which was from 1989 to 1997. I was perhaps the odd one out in that I was getting a 6K bursary to do my PhD, but even then it was tight. My parents are wealthy (Well, my Mum still is, but it's all tied up in funds) but I never had a car or anything other than a treat to a meal out when they came down to visit! Most of my fellow students were below the breadline.

Blimey, my lot were out clubbing 3 times a week, in the pub another 3 days of the week and eating out about 5/6 times a week i recon, Goose at the OVT had a burger deal for £3.10 you got a burger, chips and a pint or soft drink! Used to love it! Birmingham Uni seemed to attract a lot of people from the South, especially Surrey and wealthier parts of London.

[Scazmattaz]

Choices UK have gone into administration, so that'll be a void in Leamington.

[rottersclub]

Blimey, my lot were out clubbing 3 times a week, in the pub another 3 days of the week and eating out about 5/6 times a week i recon, Goose at the OVT had a burger deal for £3.10 you got a burger, chips and a pint or soft drink! Used to love it! Birmingham Uni seemed to attract a lot of people from the South, especially Surrey and wealthier parts of London.

Cov Poly DIDN'T attract wealthy students. Warwick Uni students didn't go into Coventry, and Sheffield Uni students seemed to be very down to Earth. Having said that, drink was VERY cheap when I was a student - less than a pound for a pint. You could go out with a fiver get pissed!

In my undergrad days I used to go out 3-4 times a week, but mainly to student places, and rarely spent much cash.

[jonbon88]

This thread appears to have gone off topic somewhat! Maybe it's best discussed in a separate thread?

Ok so Coventry has problems, what city doesn't? i.e London has Hackney less that 3 miles as the crow flies from the most expensive apartments in the country, it's full of arrogant t*ats and louts, and traffic and pollution is atrocious!

At lease Coventry has ambition and plans, rather than dire places such as Tamworth or Nuneaton. Plans may take time to come to fruition, but that's called a business case. You can't change the city unless you get a return on investment.

Friargate will be the start of big things to come I reckon, watch the Litten tree get a new tenant and the quality of retailers improve and feed through the town. Demolish the horrid Hertford Street to open it up again, chase out the pound shops, and expose the wonderful Lloyds TSB bank again (have you actually noticed what they stuck to the side of this building, makes you want to weep) and it will be job done.........ish

your wish to have the pound shops gone may have just come true. i walked down Hartford street yesterday and pound land was gone. i hope its gone for good and not just a make over, a lot of shops in cov seem to be closing for a refit at the min wonder what’s going on

[Jags]

your wish to have the pound shops gone may have just come true. i walked down Hartford street yesterday and pound land was gone. i hope its gone for good and not just a make over, a lot of shops in cov seem to be closing for a refit at the min wonder what’s going on

Mark one have gone into administration aswell, so i think that might be closing aswell. Everything is closing down in that area, maybe they are closing because the ae going to be knocked down. But then on the other hand Halifax are opening up there. Its really odd.

[Jags]

lol sorry wrong road.

[jonbon88]

Mark one have gone into administration aswell, so i think that might be closing aswell. Everything is closing down in that area, maybe they are closing because the ae going to be knocked down. But then on the other hand Halifax are opening up there. Its really odd.

are all mark ones closing or just ours ?

[Jags]

are all mark ones closing or just ours ?
The whole company has gone into admin i think, they may restructure.

[rottersclub]

This thread appears to have gone off topic somewhat! Maybe it's best discussed in a separate thread?

Ok so Coventry has problems, what city doesn't? i.e London has Hackney less that 3 miles as the crow flies from the most expensive apartments in the country, it's full of arrogant t*ats and louts, and traffic and pollution is atrocious!

At lease Coventry has ambition and plans, rather than dire places such as Tamworth or Nuneaton. Plans may take time to come to fruition, but that's called a business case. You can't change the city unless you get a return on investment.

Friargate will be the start of big things to come I reckon, watch the Litten tree get a new tenant and the quality of retailers improve and feed through the town. Demolish the horrid Hertford Street to open it up again, chase out the pound shops, and expose the wonderful Lloyds TSB bank again (have you actually noticed what they stuck to the side of this building, makes you want to weep) and it will be job done.........ish

Sadly, the building attached to Lloyd's bank (Broadgate House) is listed!

[rottersclub]

your wish to have the pound shops gone may have just come true. i walked down Hartford street yesterday and pound land was gone. i hope its gone for good and not just a make over, a lot of shops in cov seem to be closing for a refit at the min wonder what’s going on

Anne Summers was closed as well - looked like a refit.

[rottersclub]

The whole company has gone into admin i think, they may restructure.

Have you got a link to this?

That area where Mark One is bloody awful - there's that huge "BeWise" (Now empty) store tucked away down there as well, and that god-awful canopy overhead around the bottom of that grey concrete tower.

[jonbon88]

Have you got a link to this?

That area where Mark One is bloody awful - there's that huge "BeWise" (Now empty) store tucked away down there as well, and that god-awful canopy overhead around the bottom of that grey concrete tower.

maybe there’s reasons for this area emptying, i mean besides it being crap down there and all perhaps they know they will be kicked out soon to make way for something big. fingers crossed

[timbotambo]

Can anyone access access this damn thing to post some smart visuals on friargate building 1?

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=669995

[rottersclub]

maybe there’s reasons for this area emptying, i mean besides it being crap down there and all perhaps they know they will be kicked out soon to make way for something big. fingers crossed

Something big like a huge bomb!!!!

[rottersclub]

Here's what looks like the controversial "eco" tower in Whitley:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=677074

[No details yet, but keep on watching!]

This is very interesting. EIGHT B1 Class Units - basically, offices/labs/light industry as part of the business park next to Jaguar's engineering centre in Whitley:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=678321

Prologis Park is still growing. This is an application to turn a plot of land into B1 and B2 and also warehousing - a diverse mix!

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=673483

There's a hell of a lot going on around Cov, what with Peugot (Ryton), Ansty, Prologis, Browns Lane and Whitley.

[Dr Pepper]

Sorry, I was in a rush this morning to get to work, sort out the baby, etc, etc, so I only gave your posting a cursory glance.

Yes, I agree. The prob with much of Cov's attractions is that they're split apart and their environment isn't that great around them. Part of the original plan for rebuilding the city consisted of making squares/features out of the more important old building... This didn't seem to happen.

I had a small guide book (From about 10 years ago) that had all the attractions and old bits of interest in Cov and a walk to take them all in. I reckon there's enough of interest to make it a day, including stopping off for lunch somewhere. Some places - like the Cathedral and Guild Hall - definitely need a longer visit to take them in completely. I reckon with some work they could make Cov into a "weekend break" type of place. There's certainly more history here than most other UK cities, even if there's little in evidence on the surface.

My guide's out of date now - there's Priory Place, the museum, the undercrofts (I find it fascinating that they left this and built over the top, but encased it in glass like a giant display) to add and soon the new Herbert Gallery - the motor museum can definitely take up a good few hours, perhaps more.


Coventry's other important historical industries of watchmaking and ribbon weaving have no dedicated museum that I know of. The trouble is buildings used by these industries have no central, tourist friendly buildings in Cov, very little survives generally. Most surviving watch makers houses/factories are in Spon End. The only ribbon weaving factory I can think of is now Nando's. Maybe the topshops in Far Gosford St could be restored and knocked together into something?

[rottersclub]

Coventry's other important historical industries of watchmaking and ribbon weaving have no dedicated museum that I know of. The trouble is buildings used by these industries have no central, tourist friendly buildings in Cov, very little survives generally. Most surviving watch makers houses/factories are in Spon End. The only ribbon weaving factory I can think of is now Nando's. Maybe the topshops in Far Gosford St could be restored and knocked together into something?

Yeah, thanks for reminding me of that - I have an excellent book about Coventry during the Industrial revolution.

There's a massive weaving building in Foleshill, on Cash's lane - cash's Topshops. Yes, most of the weaving houses were torn down - although you can see a few dotted around Stoke.

Watchmaking - the watchmaker's quarter in Chapelfields (Craven Street) is virtually intact, apart from a few gaps, and is a conservation area. Most of the watchmaker's workshops out back have been converted into outbuildings, but if you go down Hearsall Lane you can see them.

Here's a watchmaker's house on Craven Street:

http://i9.tinypic.com/4r22b5s.jpg

Earlsdon was also a Journeyman watchmaking "village", and there are "topshops" at the back off the high street.

Albany Road - the lower part - may also be watchmaker's houses.

Here's Cash's topshops:

http://i13.tinypic.com/5447039.jpg

These are some "top shops" in Holyhead Road, City Centre:

http://i15.tinypic.com/6aqnslv.jpg
These are very typical of what a lot of Coventry would have looked like - streets of 3 storey cottages with large windows where the workers worked. I believe the terraces in Hillfields had machines running the length of them, powered at the end of the terrace.

Here's some more, near "Mosely Trading." (Hill street?)

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

The building at the end of Spon Street is the remain of Rotherham's Watch Factory.

[rottersclub]

Coventry's other important historical industries of watchmaking and ribbon weaving have no dedicated museum that I know of. The trouble is buildings used by these industries have no central, tourist friendly buildings in Cov, very little survives generally. Most surviving watch makers houses/factories are in Spon End. The only ribbon weaving factory I can think of is now Nando's. Maybe the topshops in Far Gosford St could be restored and knocked together into something?

I wish they would do something about those Topshops on Far Gosford Street - they have to be preserved, as they're important historically and would also look very smart if done up!

[Dr Pepper]

There was a huge triangle of ribbon weavers houses in Hillfields. It was demolished in the early 70's. Progress at the time but a great loss now.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4xku0yd.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/6gcz382.jpg

[Dr Pepper]

For more on the history of Hillfields I'd recommend the following site.

http://www.hillfields.org.uk/History/Index.htm

[rottersclub]

For more on the history of Hillfields I'd recommend the following site.

http://www.hillfields.org.uk/History/Index.htm

Yeah, I've seen this site. I can't remember the name of the book, but there's an academic text about Industrial Revolution Coventry that covers watchmakers and weavers (I got my copy from a 2nd hand bookshop online somewhere). There's also an excellent story called "The Stagnation of a City" which is about Coventry's post-medieval slump (That lasted until the mid-18th century!)

[rottersclub]

There was a huge triangle of ribbon weavers houses in Hillfields. It was demolished in the early 70's. Progress at the time but a great loss now.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4xku0yd.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/6gcz382.jpg

I think these are the ones that had the machines and the shaft running through them where people worked on.

This sort of thing would have given Coventry a real urban feeling, a bit like the St Paul's area of Cheltenham - and the old houses would be ripe for re-use.

There were similar topshops in Spon End, but the area fell into decline when they built the ringroad. They also let a medieval chapel fall into decay until it fell down.

[Dr Pepper]

It would have been great for the Hillfields topshops to be restored but I doubt they would have made it through 30 odd years of neglect intact if they had been left. If they had I'm sure people's image of Hillfields would have been different from an area of deprivation/concrete tower blocks.

[rottersclub]

It would have been great for the Hillfields topshops to be restored but I doubt they would have made it through 30 odd years of neglect intact if they had been left. If they had I'm sure people's image of Hillfields would have been different from an area of deprivation/concrete tower blocks.

Having said that, the college looks OK.

[Dr Pepper]

This row of buildings is called Black Swan Terrace as that was the name of the pub they once housed and have recently been restored and brought back into use. They are in Spon End and form part of the old east-west trade route through Coventry that included Far Gosford St, Spon St, these buildings and the buildings by the Spon End arches. Hopefully the restoration of the timber framed buildings in Far Gosford St will be as good as this.

http://i12.tinypic.com/4zk1ffb.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/4mkojo2.jpg

[rottersclub]

Really nice to see Black Swan finished - shame about the rest of that area! They've done a nice job there.:banana:

Far Gosford Street. :ohno: Could be great. Could be.


They should do the same to the Burges - they're all medieval underneath.

[Jags]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[sleslie48]

Thats really good to see Black Swan Terrace. That could be a good area for regeneration if they remove the council estate, could extend the wealth from earlsdon/ the new butts development. That area has a few decent little features like the spon end old buildings row and the river. Dam ring road, thats possibly the grottiest most imposing part of the ring road there which blocks any good link up to the centre

[LifeOnMarsBar]

Really nice to see Black Swan finished - shame about the rest of that area! They've done a nice job there...They should do the same to the Burges - they're all medieval underneath.

so true...they should definitely consider a similar restoration as this for The Burges and the small bits on Corporation St.

How would it work? Who owns those buildings in The Burges? Are they private or leased from the Council? Do the Black Swan buildings belong to a trust?

[Dr Pepper]

so true...they should definitely consider a similar restoration as this for The Burges and the small bits on Corporation St.

How would it work? Who owns those buildings in The Burges? Are they private or leased from the Council? Do the Black Swan buildings belong to a trust?

The Black Swan is owned by a trust. There website is here;

http://www.sponend.org.uk/sebpt/index.html

[rottersclub]

so true...they should definitely consider a similar restoration as this for The Burges and the small bits on Corporation St.

How would it work? Who owns those buildings in The Burges? Are they private or leased from the Council? Do the Black Swan buildings belong to a trust?

Black Swan buildings belong to a trust, I believe. Not sure who owns the Burges - after the war Coventry Council bought up most of the land in the city centre, so they may well have bought this up. I'd say they're privately owned, though.

Black Swan terrace was originally going to be demolished and the medieval bits packed away and reconstructed on Spon Street - for some reason it didn't happen, so we have another little medieval gem tucked away!

[rottersclub]

Thats really good to see Black Swan Terrace. That could be a good area for regeneration if they remove the council estate, could extend the wealth from earlsdon/ the new butts development. That area has a few decent little features like the spon end old buildings row and the river. Dam ring road, thats possibly the grottiest most imposing part of the ring road there which blocks any good link up to the centre

It's also on the edge of the only Victorian area of the city - the streets around the Holyhead road. There are some nice terraces if you go down the back.

[Dr Pepper]

One of the reasons that the ring road in the Swanswell area isn't being lowered is because it would create to much of a barrier at ground level for travel between Hillfields and the city centre. At present people can walk under the raised carriageway.

This problem could be solved by some well designed bridges allowing the connection to continue. A good example of this is the Green Bridge in London connecting the two halves of Mile End park. The bridge is wide allowing plenty of room for pedestrians and also has trees and plants growing from it giving continuity through the park. Something similar could also be used at the end of Spon St to connect to the Spon End/Chapelfields area.

Here are some pictures.

http://i15.tinypic.com/5zfwa40.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/4mm8qhz.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/623x91z.jpg

[sleslie48]

Great example, thats how to do things properly. The trouble with spon street is the ring road is ground level at the end so it can't be bridged unless they lower the ring road, which will never happen I guess.

If they're not going to get rid of the ring road at all, the council need to start thinking very seriously and creatively of how to make the pedestrian links and appearance of it much much better.

The spon end/butts junction (7) is the worst I think, pedestrian routes are just like burrows and theres so much waste land with a car park in the middle. With the butts development and it being the way into the city from earlsdon it needs to improve. If it did improve the city may have a chance of actually spilling outside the ring road, through the butt's development and friars gate. Think I've given up on the other side of the city.

Do you rekon the ring road should be uninterupted? Would it work to have big cross roads and pedestrian crossings? The roundabout at the foleshill junction seems to work ok. Personally I wouldn't mind if it created a mixed pedestrian-traffic streetscape. I'd sacrifice a bit of time on a journey for a more alive city. It's the city centre after all and should be weighted more towards pedestrian traffic not the other way round IMO.

[LifeOnMarsBar]

One of the reasons that the ring road in the Swanswell area isn't being lowered is because it would create to much of a barrier at ground level for travel between Hillfields and the city centre. At present people can walk under the raised carriageway.

This problem could be solved by some well designed bridges allowing the connection to continue. A good example of this is the Green Bridge in London connecting the two halves of Mile End park. The bridge is wide allowing plenty of room for pedestrians and also has trees and plants growing from it giving continuity through the park. Something similar could also be used at the end of Spon St to connect to the Spon End/Chapelfields area.


Good example Dr Pepper...i think the route from Cov railway station into the city centre is almost a good example too (if a bit of work was done on the bridge section). The park bit is great and strengthening & widening the bridge with trees (as in the Green Bridge example) would certainly improve that route.

Junction 1 could have two of these types of overpasses. One where the current bridge is (between the post office and canal basin) and another one to replace Junction 2.

The answer certainly is to keep the pedestrians to the top layer of an interchange and the traffic to the bottom layer. (without utilising a costly tunnel). Junction 7 is the wrong way around at the moment and i think the ringroad needs lowering. A wide boulevard should be on the top layer to let traffic into the city centre but as not to break the ringroad. Looking at the new FriarGate renders the junction there looks like it will be like this.

[rottersclub]

One of the reasons that the ring road in the Swanswell area isn't being lowered is because it would create to much of a barrier at ground level for travel between Hillfields and the city centre. At present people can walk under the raised carriageway.

This problem could be solved by some well designed bridges allowing the connection to continue. A good example of this is the Green Bridge in London connecting the two halves of Mile End park. The bridge is wide allowing plenty of room for pedestrians and also has trees and plants growing from it giving continuity through the park. Something similar could also be used at the end of Spon St to connect to the Spon End/Chapelfields area.

Here are some pictures.

http://i15.tinypic.com/5zfwa40.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/4mm8qhz.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/623x91z.jpg

This would be great, but Coventry ringroad & city centre is too small to do stuff like this with the exception of the station junction, which has the park opposite it. Spon Street/Spon End has no land at all to create a bridge like this, and the ringroad is surface level here - they'd have to lower it first.

The council always preferred lowering the stretch of the ringroad from Skyblue way to Foleshill - for good reason! It'd create an urban network of streets, and also the amount of land freed up from the removal of the junctions would be be prime development land.

If you look at a map of Coventry, the amount of space the ringroad and its junctions take up is totally out of proportion to the size of land it encloses. In some places it's 8 lanes wide!!!! As mos of the junctions don't go anywhere, I'm sure they could remove half of them.

I see the best thing they can do is building up around the ringroad, trying to remove those chunks of dead land that exist between the shppping area and the ringroad - like Belgrade Plaza is doing. Traditionally though, it's proven difficult to do anything around the thing due to the way it cuts up land into difficult to develop parcels of land that have virtually no road or pedestrian access. This is why it's surrounded by cheap developments, car parks and ugly shacks like Wickes and that god-awful white thing. What on Earth is that?

[rottersclub]

Good example Dr Pepper...i think the route from Cov railway station into the city centre is almost a good example too (if a bit of work was done on the bridge section). The park bit is great and strengthening & widening the bridge with trees (as in the Green Bridge example) would certainly improve that route.

Junction 1 could have two of these types of overpasses. One where the current bridge is (between the post office and canal basin) and another one to replace Junction 2.

The answer certainly is to keep the pedestrians to the top layer of an interchange and the traffic to the bottom layer. (without utilising a costly tunnel). Junction 7 is the wrong way around at the moment and i think the ringroad needs lowering. A wide boulevard should be on the top layer to let traffic into the city centre but as not to break the ringroad. Looking at the new FriarGate renders the junction there looks like it will be like this.

I remember reading that the council wanted to make virtually all the city centre pedestrianised. I think we may end up with the ringroad being pretty much nothing more than a glorified feeder into car parks around the periphery of the city centre. Especially as they seem to want to get rid of a lot of the existing "central" parking spaces (Barracks, for example) and replace it with larger car parks like (Perhaps) Belgrade Plaza.

This will be OK if there're people at these places - at the mo. Cov is too dead around the ringroad and this makes a lot of it intimidating and has helped drive people away. If Belgrade Plaza is busy all day and in the evenings, then it'd help, same for Friargate.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with it. IMHO, I think it's too small and I can't really see why it's necessary when most of Coventry's employment areas are zoned on the outskirts. It seems an excessive amount of road for a city centre with very few offices, no dwellings and a poorly visited shopping centre! An outer circle would be far more useful - but that was canned in the 1990s.

[rottersclub]

The planning application for the development of housing out in Whitley village now has some drawings.

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=677074

The design access statement shows an 8/9 storey block on the site! This'll fairly dominate that area. Go to page 13.

It looks like they've fixed Trapeze - seems to work now.

[sleslie48]

This is why it's surrounded by cheap developments, car parks and ugly shacks like Wickes and that god-awful white thing. What on Earth is that?

I think thats something to do withthe national grid, it's terrible

[LifeOnMarsBar]

Hopefully, Cov railway platforms are getting lengthened...

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=bid-to-ease-rail-overcrowding%26method=full%26objectid=19682219%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

This can only be good news for the commuters to/from london.

...and if the Ricoh station happens and it's platform are made longer too then that should help with the mass transit during match days and concerts...(although i don't know why they don't use double decker carriages like on the continent)

[rottersclub]

http://i11.tinypic.com/4takx1v.jpg

This is the proposed apartment development for Whitley village - the design statement has some more images. Looks OK. IMHO, certainly better than the derelict offices currenly occupying the site!

[LifeOnMarsBar]

This is the proposed apartment development for Whitley village - the design statement has some more images. Looks OK. IMHO, certainly better than the derelict offices currenly occupying the site!

I like this one - better than the usual exposed cement blocks, bricks and grey metal.

[rottersclub]

I like this one - better than the usual exposed cement blocks, bricks and grey metal.

I think it's going to be sort of clad in wood... The design statement goes into it in some detail.

There's a lot of opposition to it, though.

[Dr Pepper]

Some one is going to have a great view of the flyover.

[rottersclub]

I think this may have been posted before:

http://money.independent.co.uk/property/homes/article339215.ece

But it's a very upbeat article about Coventry. What I found interesting was the comments about Belgrade Plaza and that there is a lot riding on it. How true. I don't think any of the developments so far have been on a scale of BP.

I do think BP is going to be a major turning point for Coventry - much of it is already sold, and it's going to provide a great focal point for the theatre area - which has a bloody good lineup of stuff for the forthcoming year, and is the major regional theatre for over half a million population.

If BP is a success, then I think we'll see the good times roll! I'm hoping they roll all the way down to Priory Place and up to the station.

What do other Coventrians think? [I'm far more excited about BP than I am about Ikea]

The comments about Earlsdon are spot on - but how can we get other suburbs of Coventry to have the same vibe?

[Dr Pepper]

Who are you? What have you done with the real Martin?

[sleslie48]

Im a little un-nerved by the lack of anything negative in that post but I think that it's true, BP will be the turning point. I really hope it's a sucess, if it is then thing's can only get better. That said you need a whole city, not just one development to really make Coventry something. It will be the bits inbetween these large developments (maybe get some actual streets) and the use of land around them that may make or break the future. If done properly, the suburbs and developments may merge and the ring road may be breached!

Possibly the biggest factor that will influence the future of the city will be the attitude of the council. Whether they let the stupid vocal minority of negative locals ruin things or whether they make it a realistic place to invest and develop. That said Coventry desperatly needs quality to be taken seriously, so some control and common sense will be needed. Judging by the Belgrade Plaza car park, it should set a precident.

I know I've not said anything new there but it's my twopence worth.

[rottersclub]

Who are you? What have you done with the real Martin?

I'm his evil twin. :evil:

[rottersclub]

Im a little un-nerved by the lack of anything negative in that post but I think that it's true, BP will be the turning point. I really hope it's a sucess, if it is then thing's can only get better. That said you need a whole city, not just one development to really make Coventry something. It will be the bits inbetween these large developments (maybe get some actual streets) and the use of land around them that may make or break the future. If done properly, the suburbs and developments may merge and the ring road may be breached!

Possibly the biggest factor that will influence the future of the city will be the attitude of the council. Whether they let the stupid vocal minority of negative locals ruin things or whether they make it a realistic place to invest and develop. That said Coventry desperatly needs quality to be taken seriously, so some control and common sense will be needed. Judging by the Belgrade Plaza car park, it should set a precident.

I know I've not said anything new there but it's my twopence worth.

Basically, we're almost at the end of the Coventry Development plan period - which had a lot of stuff in it that's happened/happening, such as "development around the station" (Friargate) and the development behind the Belgrade (Originally an Arts Complex, but thrown out due to the proximity of Warwick Uni Arts centre.)

Of course, since that plan was done a lot has happened - Puegot Closed, Brown's Lane closed and Marconi bit the dust in a big way. Then Coventry was named a "growth point", which seems to have lead to possible large population growth.

The council's got some interesting papers on their website - consultation documents, etc. The latest one, the consultation for population growth, talks about the fact that there's a lot of land in the city centre that can be redeveloped, especially around the ringroad.

It also talks about "preserving" the Cathedral views - Coventry actually has protected views, and this will restrict any tall buildings.

[Dr Pepper]

It also talks about "preserving" the Cathedral views - Coventry actually has protected views, and this will restrict any tall buildings.

Personally I think it would be good to leave the two main spires as the tallest buildings in the city. It's something that defines Coventy in a visual way. Building tall for the sake if it is just achetectual willy waving. I'm not against tall buildings per say it's just the spires are rather timeless compared to a 50 storey box/cheesegrater/gerkin that will date more quickly, could have been built anywhere else and be superseeded in height given time.

That said, a high quality forth spire could work well.

[rottersclub]

Personally I think it would be good to leave the two main spires as the tallest buildings in the city. It's something that defines Coventy in a visual way. Building tall for the sake if it is just achetectual willy waving. I'm not against tall buildings per say it's just the spires are rather timeless compared to a 50 storey box/cheesegrater/gerkin that will date more quickly, could have been built anywhere else and be superseeded in height given time.

That said, a high quality forth spire could work well.

I've seen a document showing the "protected" views - I think one is the view from Earlsdon High street of the spire, and views from Spon End and Foleshill Road. I don't think it prevents taller buildings, but it restricts where they can go.

I think the 4th spire was a good idea. You can barely see the 3rd spire as it is quite hidden these days.

I'd rather they sort out the "streetscape" issue than build some monstrosities. Cov needs streets!

[jonbon88]

i have post pictures of the inside of the new belgrade theater on its thread if any one whats a look.

[rottersclub]

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/coventry/aerial-coventry5607.jpg

Get a load of this! Look at the sexy way the ringroad curls around those buildings. And look at all the land that's just waiting to be developed...

[sleslie48]

It makes me quiver!

It shows just how odd the way the city has developed is

[rottersclub]

It makes me quiver!

It shows just how odd the way the city has developed is

Yeah, it makes you realise how much space there is in the city centre, and how little of it you ever see - whole areas that you have no reason to visit... Also how small the shopping area really is compared to the rest of it.

[rottersclub]

Here's some brochure the council have produced:

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


I must say, it all looks very impressive - the scale of some of his stuff is pretty impressive (Not heightwise, but in terms of size and aspirations for job creation). I wonder how much of it we'll see actually start? It's almost as impressive as Hull.:)


I very much like the emphasis towards job creation - although it seems this is part of the plan to increase the population.

I also read another document that said the largest growth in Coventry's job market has been with financial/business services, while manufacturing has decreased dramatically over the last 10 years.

[jonbon88]

the tourist information is moving from its site on priory row to the cathedral spire,
for the full story visit. http://news.bbc.co.uk//hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6968478.stm.

[sleslie48]

I remember seeing this a little while ago but I got distracted with the bit about swanswell and just got wound up in the end as I then looked at the original plans thinking how much better they were!

It's good to see paragon park in there (where exactly is the site for this, im never sure?) and the recognition of electric wharf, hopefully a development to set a standard.

The map is really good, if, I think a little inacurate in some of the street layout, esp around hertford st. Note that they have the whole of the allied carpets area and the barracks car parked marked as "Retail And Leisure" "Future Development".

What makes me laugh is that it appears shelton sq (i think thats what it is, the maps dubious, it's either shelton sq or coventry point!) is highlighted as a completed project, mmm isn't it wonderfull!

Good summery tho

[sleslie48]

the tourist information is moving from its site on priory row to the cathedral spire,
for the full story visit. http://news.bbc.co.uk//hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6968478.stm.

I thinks thats really good, I never made it up the spire before so this will be one of the first things I do when I get back to Coventry. Sad? maybe!

Whats going to happen to the Priory row buildings? I personaly thought they worked well as a tourist information. Inside they seem like they'd be suitable for, erm, a tea rooms?! Anyone got any better ideas? Shouldn't be hard to beat that!

[rottersclub]

I thinks thats really good, I never made it up the spire before so this will be one of the first things I do when I get back to Coventry. Sad? maybe!

Whats going to happen to the Priory row buildings? I personaly thought they worked well as a tourist information. Inside they seem like they'd be suitable for, erm, a tea rooms?! Anyone got any better ideas? Shouldn't be hard to beat that!

I hope the priory row buildings do get re-used for something interesting - it's time Cov started using it medieval heritage rather than leaving is in aspic. Anything would be good - a restaurant, tea rooms - something that brings them back into public use.

Here's more info about the TIC

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=spire-new-home-for-tourist-office%26method=full%26objectid=19709291%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

One in the Cathedral Spire
One in the Ricoh
One in the transport museum
One at Coventry Airport

You've never been up the spire? I've taken a few people up there, and they're always incredibly impressed. The view is quite brilliant!

I can't believe it's been closed for two years.