COVENTRY | Full Summary of Projects

[skybluecity]

owing to the refusal of coventrians to accept that they are in any way part of a birmingham metro area, thought i'd repost the thread here...

forthcoming developments:

the belgrade plaza:

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/belgrade1.jpg
http://www.belgradeplaza.co.uk/images/aboutbel2006.jpg

park court (next to coventry station)

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/pc1.jpg

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/pc2.jpg

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/pc3.jpg

apartments on st patricks road

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/spr1.gif

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/spr2.gif

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/spr3.gif

development on upper york st:

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/uys.jpg

development at the butts (images are poor quality and dont really do it justice - worth checking out council site to view brochure)

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/butts1.gif

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/butts2.gif

development on london road on ringroad roundabout (image not the best, but gives you an idea)

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/londonrd.gif

development of flats on lower ford st just outside ring-road

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/lfs.jpg

the massive swanswell development

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/swanswell.gif

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/swanswell1.jpg

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/swanswell2.jpg

the new city centre ikea (poor image)

http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/ikea.jpg

lots of other stuff happening but no images im afraid.

[gothicform]

is this a reclad? why not link to the actual council document?
http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/butts1.gif

[rottersclub]

is this a reclad? why not link to the actual council document?
http://www.justpaguera.co.uk/cov/butts1.gif


No, it's not a reclad. The building to the Left is Ramada Coventry, and the tower to the Right will sit on top of the proposed leisure centre that will include bar area, swimming pool and a fitness centre.

This is in the Butts area - just outside the city centre, and has recently seen somewhat of a renaissance with a modern apartment block conversion from an office block, and another block round the corner going up. Funnily enough, the area has seen a growth in restaurants as well, and it's also near the old Technology college building, which is going to redeveloped alongside the rugby ground (Manhattan Apartments were looking at this, I think, at some point.) I think the Butts - which is between affluent Earlsdon and the City centre - may be what they call an "Up and coming area".

Here's the planning application:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=656714

If you click on design statement, the full brochure loads up.

If you get an SQL error, it means the website isn't up. It spends more time down than Spike Milligan.

[gothicform]

do we have ramada coventry on this?
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/bdbsearch.php?city=Coventry&so=roofheight

[skybluecity]

do we have ramada coventry on this?
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/bdbsearch.php?city=Coventry&so=roofheight

yes, i think its down as 'telecom house'. the building used to be owned by BT but was recently converted to a ramada hotel.

[rottersclub]

Belgrade Plaza seems to be filling up with clients nicely -

Radisson Hotels (4 star?)
Travel Lodge (Budget)
Metro Bar & Grill (Who have two Michelin rated restaurants in the Midlands already - Brum & Solihull)
Gala Casino

I've always suspected that Coventry was too planned, and now they are building generic "apartment blocks with commercial units" they seem to be able to fill them nicely.

[rottersclub]

driving down foleshill road i can see a top of a building thats getting extended up-wards. Its on the canal front i think abit behind magnet & kiwk fit. Looks like an old warehouse having a make-over down .... anyone got any info on this

...also any news on the swanswell intiative>?


Could be Electric Wharf? Although directly behind Magnet is the Cash's offices, and next to that a derelict factory.

[rottersclub]

Looks like the Medical Research centre - employing up to 5000 people - may be getting closer. A delegate of local MPs, and important folk from the University hospital and Warwick Uni have managed to get the full support from the government, who are going to put pressure on the so-called "development" agency to stop stalling progress.

The project has General Electric Medical interested in the project already, and if it goes ahead would make Coventry a UK centre for medical based industries.

[rottersclub]

Did anyone else see the article about the council looking at building a business quarter where the current council/civic buildings are? The plan would be to demolish all the existing council/civic buildings and replace it with a new "office quarter" that the council would use - the rest would be office space(!?!?) They have appointed some firm to investigate/masterplan a scheme.

Apparently, Cov council is also rather rich due to the huge amount of land/buildings it owns - a by-product of its buying land after the war - and it makes a pretty decent profit on the income generated by it. They apparently want to build on this and make even more cash. It's apparently a unique position.

The Location of the council tower was mooted as being a possible spot to construct the tallest building in the UK by some bunch of local bigwigs called the "Ambassadors".

[gothicform]

no but i did read the planning apps to find out how tall a couple of proposals are. :)

[rottersclub]

no but i did read the planning apps to find out how tall a couple of proposals are. :)

LOL. Not very, I think is the answer. :) The council seem to like "up to 20 storeys".

One of the planning apps. has a huge diagram showing all the protected views in which tall buildings aren't allowed as they'll obscure views of the Cathedral tower!

[inspired]

Could be Electric Wharf? Although directly behind Magnet is the Cash's offices, and next to that a derelict factory.


its further down from Electric Wharf, as you travel down foleshill road you'll see it appear over the top of some buildings. It seems to be the derelict factory on the same side as cash's business centre

[rottersclub]

its further down from Electric Wharf, as you travel down foleshill road you'll see it appear over the top of some buildings. It seems to be the derelict factory on the same side as cash's business centre

I know the building you mean. I'm not surprised someone's finally doing something with it...

I notice the cranes are up on Far Gosford Street - Astleys is being turned into a hall of residence.

Recommend the Aqua Lebanese restaurant, by the way - excellent Lebanese food.

[skybluecity]

looks like things are finally moving forward with millenium place:

proposal (http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=17505050%26method=full%26siteid=50003%26headline=stunning%2dvision%2dof%2dcity%2dcentre%2dcomplex-name_page.html)

[inspired]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/iccoventry/aug2006/2/0/CF0B9716-ADD3-DB07-A764B31DCD241A8F.jpg

cant wait to see the detailed plans for the development. I wonder what types of retail outlets they will try and get in as they would have to compete with belgrade plaza which is much more of an attractive development and is far better in terms of accessibilty.

[rottersclub]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/iccoventry/aug2006/2/0/CF0B9716-ADD3-DB07-A764B31DCD241A8F.jpg

cant wait to see the detailed plans for the development. I wonder what types of retail outlets they will try and get in as they would have to compete with belgrade plaza which is much more of an attractive development and is far better in terms of accessibilty.

Here's hoping the city centre gets a bit more "joined up".

Remember, there will be a lot more people living in the centre when the various developments are over, and Priory Place does seem to be attracting business now.

[inspired]

They just need to knock-down the rest of the precinct and cathedral lanes now and develop the area which is easier on the eye...

[rottersclub]

They just need to knock-down the rest of the precinct and cathedral lanes now and develop the area which is easier on the eye...

I wouldn't say Demolish all the precinct - some bits of it are OK, but it needs a bit more variety and somehow needs to be less enclosed and more "street" like. I think they could improve it no end if the built more "arcades" that lead outwards - rather similar to Cardiff - and at least tried to make them nice. Maybe by looking at the old city's layout and trying to capture some of the atmosphere (But not the style.) Dunno. If they did it all again, it'd no doubt end up hated in a few years time.

Interesting to read in the (Nationwide) Daily Telegraph today about massive house building planned - it commented that "Coventry and Warwickshire" are eager to sacrifice green space for more houses, and may well take advantage of government plans to provide financial incentives for councils who rush through permission for houses on green land. Indeed, the A45 corridor between Coventry -> Rugby seems to be filled with new developments, and Coventry council seem intent on increasing the population of "the city" by 100,000 people (Although 30,000 new homes are planned for Coventry, 16,000 for Rugby and 12,000 for Leamington/Warwick - and one area designated as being possible for the expansion of Coventry's population is the area between Bedworth and Nuneaton)

Perhaps some interesting times ahead for the city (And Warwickshire) - what with Warwick University planning to double its campus in size (In green land between Coventry and Kenilworth) and some big industrial developments on the horizon, not to mention the Station masterplan [They are pushing very hard the train links with London] aimed at being the base for a large government department as well as other offices.

[inspired]

i was listening the bbc coventry and warwickshire this morning, and they had a piece on the fall in footfall on the burges and that companies are feeling this since they took the bus-stops out and moved the services to pool meadow. This has also effected the businesses in the market as the buses are now stopping in pool meadow. ITs too far for people to fall. Some businesses have seen a 30% + fall in sales.

Cllr Arrowsmith was on the radio saying that there are plans to redevelop the burges and hales st/bishop street to tie it in with the belgrade developments and last development within the pheonix area.

I think the council made a terrible mistake in keeping pool meadow open!

On another note..i was in manchester for the past cpl of days, and theres so much development going on there...Some really interestingly designed skyscrapers, it does the 'big city' feel really well, much better than birmingham does. It definantly should be classed as the second city rather than brum!

[rottersclub]

i was listening the bbc coventry and warwickshire this morning, and they had a piece on the fall in footfall on the burges and that companies are feeling this since they took the bus-stops out and moved the services to pool meadow. This has also effected the businesses in the market as the buses are now stopping in pool meadow. ITs too far for people to fall. Some businesses have seen a 30% + fall in sales.

Cllr Arrowsmith was on the radio saying that there are plans to redevelop the burges and hales st/bishop street to tie it in with the belgrade developments and last development within the pheonix area.

I think the council made a terrible mistake in keeping pool meadow open!

On another note..i was in manchester for the past cpl of days, and theres so much development going on there...Some really interestingly designed skyscrapers, it does the 'big city' feel really well, much better than birmingham does. It definantly should be classed as the second city rather than brum!

Pool Meadow is a huge mistake. The _only_ reason it's there is because they used the land after the war for buses. There's absolutely no reason for it to be a bus station. On the other hand, with the buses all gone, it means the street and area can be redeveloped - and remember the row of buildings opposite MacDonalds are infilled medieval timber buildings - with a good development, it could be made very attractive indeed.

I was brought up outside Manchester, and always felt it had a buzz about it - and a great "city" feel. I don't really much about who/what is the 2nd city. I'd prefer to be somewhere mid sized like Bristol, Notts, Leicester or even Coventry where I currently am. Urban sprawl is over-rated, and only liked by people here who seem so insecure they argue about population figures. Most Brits would off down to the coast if they could, living in sea front cottages. People only live in depressing urban sprawls because they either like it or can't afford to get out!

[sleslie48]

I think keeping the bus station open was a mistake, its just grim and badly situated in reality. The road through millenium place is growing on me, its given the area a busy kind of feel that it didnt have before. However, its just congestion, shame its not busy with people. They need to sort out the signals its insane! Do it properly and have it as an actual junction with proper lights and not just a bus lane, people drive through it, embrace it council! Hopefully when the old fire station opens up and if that millenium view proposal goes through (and swanswell) it will get some life. Its so important that they link up with the other developments that are going on though, that'll make or break the city, bristol sized population or not!

I disagree with the population expansion, the city is in no state to sustain that amount of people. Sort out the city centre first, and the transport, then when it's a successfull, attractive city, build more houses. More people is just gonna cause more problems.

The precincts fine, just needs a bit of doing up. Knock down cathedral lanes, get rid of the embarrassing tent, seriously sort out hertford street, and get rid of west orchards, that place is the worst! Oh and better link to canal basin, dam wobbly bridge.

I saw in the article about the council selling off their land that civic centre 4 (the tall building near the herbert) may go, that would be nice! Important that they do mixed use developments, as that area is just all council and no life at the mo.

I like the look of the belgrade expansion, im impressed although the claddings coming off the walls if you look round the back! A bit concerning!

Oh yeah and they're painting the tower blocks in the radford road area! Crazy!

[rottersclub]

I think keeping the bus station open was a mistake, its just grim and badly situated in reality. The road through millenium place is growing on me, its given the area a busy kind of feel that it didnt have before. However, its just congestion, shame its not busy with people. They need to sort out the signals its insane! Do it properly and have it as an actual junction with proper lights and not just a bus lane, people drive through it, embrace it council! Hopefully when the old fire station opens up and if that millenium view proposal goes through (and swanswell) it will get some life. Its so important that they link up with the other developments that are going on though, that'll make or break the city, bristol sized population or not!

I disagree with the population expansion, the city is in no state to sustain that amount of people. Sort out the city centre first, and the transport, then when it's a successfull, attractive city, build more houses. More people is just gonna cause more problems.

The precincts fine, just needs a bit of doing up. Knock down cathedral lanes, get rid of the embarrassing tent, seriously sort out hertford street, and get rid of west orchards, that place is the worst! Oh and better link to canal basin, dam wobbly bridge.

I saw in the article about the council selling off their land that civic centre 4 (the tall building near the herbert) may go, that would be nice! Important that they do mixed use developments, as that area is just all council and no life at the mo.

I like the look of the belgrade expansion, im impressed although the claddings coming off the walls if you look round the back! A bit concerning!

Oh yeah and they're painting the tower blocks in the radford road area! Crazy!

The population expansion isn't just being done for the sake of it - read the report on the council's website. Read between the lines. Look at the figures for the socio-economic groups in the city. Look at what the city's missing in its population.

Coventry can easily sustain that population - there were mooted plans years ago to increase the city's population to 600,000. If the council can attract the jobs to the city - which I think they will - and the current population does not have the skills for those jobs, they will have to import staff or utilise the two universities and their yearly stream of graduates.

Some of the problems with the city that make it deeply unattractive won't be solved until the socio-economic group weighting is improved.

In other words. The council think the population is too Pikey. They want it less Pikey. To do this, they have to import new people, persuade high tech businesses that it's a good location for business (Hence all the adverts highlighting the 1 hour train trip to London), and that there's a steady stream of graduates who can do these jobs. Get 'em to stay when they finish, otherwise they'll all be going to Milton Keynes.

[sleslie48]

I know theyre not doing it for the sake of it, thats not what i was saying. I was only stating the obvious that at present Coventry isn't a highly desireable place to live. Personally I think it has huge potential to be. I was basicly trying to say that it works both ways. Building a load of new houses on greenbelt land wont solve the problems. The city centre will still not pull these people in. I know they're doing a lot of improvements at the moment, but I think they could and need to do loads more. The city centre needs sorting out, mainly by having stuff in there people will actually need, and willing to travel into it for. And transport is not suitable in my mind to support that expansion, and I know people on here moan about the transport now. Improving the current housing areas is more of a priority than building new ones. They cant just cover up the pikeys with more people. I know its a plan for the future, but it seems like theyre jumping the gun rather. Anyway, I'm leaving this country for two weeks tomorrow, about time, so im not bothered about this for the mo! Cherio

[inspired]

ive just read the leeds thread about bradford city.
The're making huge improvements to their centre as well as new developments. Looks like they are re-developing nearly half of the city centre.

Seeing a city as big as bradford developing on this scale why cant coventry follow suit?

[rottersclub]

I know theyre not doing it for the sake of it, thats not what i was saying. I was only stating the obvious that at present Coventry isn't a highly desireable place to live. Personally I think it has huge potential to be. I was basicly trying to say that it works both ways. Building a load of new houses on greenbelt land wont solve the problems. The city centre will still not pull these people in. I know they're doing a lot of improvements at the moment, but I think they could and need to do loads more. The city centre needs sorting out, mainly by having stuff in there people will actually need, and willing to travel into it for. And transport is not suitable in my mind to support that expansion, and I know people on here moan about the transport now. Improving the current housing areas is more of a priority than building new ones. They cant just cover up the pikeys with more people. I know its a plan for the future, but it seems like theyre jumping the gun rather. Anyway, I'm leaving this country for two weeks tomorrow, about time, so im not bothered about this for the mo! Cherio

Building new houses will solve the problem, though. The current inner city areas and housing estates are undesirable. You can't attract business without desirable housing - that means semi/detached houses with gardens. Coventry has far too many areas of terraced housing designed for the old factory workers, and very few regional centres. Some of this is being addressed by developments in Stoke and Foleshill, but on the main, folk don't care about public transport. They want a house with a garden and decent road links to where they work. Businesses want to relocate where there are skills and the sort of housing their staff want.

You can't improve the existing housing areas because they're rubbish. Most of them are being torn down, anyway.

[rottersclub]

ive just read the leeds thread about bradford city.
The're making huge improvements to their centre as well as new developments. Looks like they are re-developing nearly half of the city centre.

Seeing a city as big as bradford developing on this scale why cant coventry follow suit?

They've been planning that for years...

If you look at Phoenix, Phoenix 2, Belgrade Plaza, then you're looking at a pretty big area that's being redeveloped - and a lot of Coventry doesn't really need redeveloping. It needs replanning and perhaps tweaking.

As far as I'm concerned, Coventry's big problem is the ringroad. If that doesn't go, any plan is futile. The thing is surrounded by a mess of cheapness that needs bulldozing.

[inspired]

They've been planning that for years...

If you look at Phoenix, Phoenix 2, Belgrade Plaza, then you're looking at a pretty big area that's being redeveloped - and a lot of Coventry doesn't really need redeveloping. It needs replanning and perhaps tweaking.

As far as I'm concerned, Coventry's big problem is the ringroad. If that doesn't go, any plan is futile. The thing is surrounded by a mess of cheapness that needs bulldozing.

hopefully some of it will get knocked down as part of the swanswell. If they do then im sure we will see immediate benefits and a feeling of that part of the city centre belonging to a larger city and having that "city feeling" like most large cities in this country do.

[foolsgold]

More news from EGI

Stoford submits £22m Coventry plan

Lisa Pilkington14/08/2006 10:30

Well Street, Coventry

Birmingham-based developer Stoford has submitted a detailed planning application for the first large-scale speculative office scheme in Coventry since the 1980s.

The £22m scheme, which will be funded by AXA Real Estate Investment Managers, will comprise an 85,000 sq ft office block and 37 flats on Wells Street and Bishops Street.
Stoford will develop the site with its residential arm Revurban.

A prelet to nearby AXA Insurance is one possibility, and Stoford is hoping to attract interest from government tenants.

Presumably there's more detail on the council website for anyone who can be bothered to search for the planning application. I was in town today and it's really starting to look like a city in transition, especially around the corporation street area. The news just seems to keep pouring in at the minute - good times for our city.

[inspired]

More news from EGI



Presumably there's more detail on the council website for anyone who can be bothered to search for the planning application. I was in town today and it's really starting to look like a city in transition, especially around the corporation street area. The news just seems to keep pouring in at the minute - good times for our city.


wooww...execellent news, esp for that part of the city. IT seems that side of the city will look quite good, from the new ikea building along to the belgrade plaza/theatre development to this new development to the pheonix/swanswell initiative.

Ill do some surfing to see what i can find as i would love to see whats going to be planned there. Hopefully the council can tie this in with the refurb on the burgees.

[rottersclub]

More news from EGI



Presumably there's more detail on the council website for anyone who can be bothered to search for the planning application. I was in town today and it's really starting to look like a city in transition, especially around the corporation street area. The news just seems to keep pouring in at the minute - good times for our city.

I suspected that this Bishop Street area would be redeveloped soon.

More telling news: the city's population is actually going up:

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=17578191%26method=full%26siteid=50003%26headline=city%2dpopulation%2dto%2dswell%2dto%2d313%2d000%2din%2d20%2dyears%2d-name_page.html

Also interesting to see this comment:

Mr Mackie said there were a number of people coming and going between Coventry, and London and the South-east.

He added: "This places new demands on Coventry, such as providing enough luxury accommodation as one example."

And also this one, which I think illustrates how Coventry has changed:

In 2004 - the latest date for which statistics are available - the population was estimated at 304,700, a growth which analysts say reflected increasing job opportunities in the city.

[rottersclub]

wooww...execellent news, esp for that part of the city. IT seems that side of the city will look quite good, from the new ikea building along to the belgrade plaza/theatre development to this new development to the pheonix/swanswell initiative.

Ill do some surfing to see what i can find as i would love to see whats going to be planned there. Hopefully the council can tie this in with the refurb on the burgees.

There's also the two 14 storey apartment blocks opposite the new Ikea... They've demolished the old fish market already.

I'm still interested in seeing what Farrells do with the station quarter.

[di Livio]

ive just read the leeds thread about bradford city.
The're making huge improvements to their centre as well as new developments. Looks like they are re-developing nearly half of the city centre.

Seeing a city as big as bradford developing on this scale why cant coventry follow suit?

The Bradford masterplan is able to go ahead because it is intended to replace derelict and empty office space that no-one wants. Coventry's central area doesn't really have that problem, so it would be virtually impossible to draw up a masterplan of that scale.

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2006/08/11/bradalsopbig.jpg

[rottersclub]

The Bradford masterplan is able to go ahead because it is intended to replace derelict and empty office space that no-one wants. Coventry's central area doesn't really have that problem, so it would be virtually impossible to draw up a masterplan of that scale.

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2006/08/11/bradalsopbig.jpg

The station area in Coventry is probably the only large area, but that's not central. Aside from that, there are pockets of land dotted around, but as Di Livio says, nowhere that could be of this scale. In some respects, Coventry's lucky in that it was "zoned" after the war and industry/jobs were moved into the pre-zoned areas mainly based around Shadow factories.

I do believe, though, that the lease is up on the post office central sorting office soon, and it's a huge building in an area that's part of the Swanswell Initiative.

[rottersclub]

Looks like the speculative office developments planned (Station, Bishop Street, Council House area) are working:

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=17675742%26method=full%26siteid=50003%26headline=500%2djobs%2dboost%2dfor%2dcity-name_page.html

550 jobs may be created by the relocation of a government department out of London - Coventry is the city being recommended. One major factor cited is the 1 hour train link from Coventry to London. And it just so happens that there's a huge development including office space at the station planned. Mmmmm...

[inspired]

Looks like the speculative office developments planned (Station, Bishop Street, Council House area) are working:

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=17675742%26method=full%26siteid=50003%26headline=500%2djobs%2dboost%2dfor%2dcity-name_page.html

550 jobs may be created by the relocation of a government department out of London - Coventry is the city being recommended. One major factor cited is the 1 hour train link from Coventry to London. And it just so happens that there's a huge development including office space at the station planned. Mmmmm...


Its good news to hear that they are already attracting some govt. agencies to relocate here. I think it clearly shows that the council is pushing forward with the station sq development and that it they may be quite down the road of planning this development.

[rottersclub]

The building behind Magnet, alongside the canal, looks quite big. Anyone know what it is?

[inspired]

The building behind Magnet, alongside the canal, looks quite big. Anyone know what it is?

thats the one ive been asking about.. :bash:

[Jags]

i drove down there last week, i think its going to be residential because its next to a bunch of other new residential developments along the canal. i think its being done by barteak but dont quote me on that.

[Jags]

The building behind Magnet, alongside the canal, looks quite big. Anyone know what it is?
i drove down there last week, i think its going to be residential because its next to a bunch of other new residential developments along the canal. i think its being done by barteak but dont quote me on that.

[rottersclub]

thats the one ive been asking about.. :bash:

This is it:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=565339

Nice conversion of the old warehouse into apartments, with the addition of an extra floor, plus a new block.

Good to see the Medical Park at Ansty steaming ahead now that Disadvantage Coventry have been told to get behind it by the government - development now features a lot of housing behind the hospital. Should firmly place the city on the map as being a focal point for the medical technologies sector.

Housing is apparently going to feature some luxury housing.

[inspired]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/iccoventry/sep2006/2/9/CF806C92-A2BA-6B95-16DBA6B5F25838A2.jpg

im sure we've all read this in the local paper...but it not heres the link

link (http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=17794173%26method=full%26siteid=50003%26headline=%2d23m%2dplan%2dfor%2dcity%2dcentre%2dsquare-name_page.html)

i hope the make it more pleasent around the Old Grammar School building ... a nice green space around it would be good...

[rottersclub]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/iccoventry/sep2006/2/9/CF806C92-A2BA-6B95-16DBA6B5F25838A2.jpg

im sure we've all read this in the local paper...but it not heres the link

link (http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=17794173%26method=full%26siteid=50003%26headline=%2d23m%2dplan%2dfor%2dcity%2dcentre%2dsquare-name_page.html)

i hope the make it more pleasent around the Old Grammar School building ... a nice green space around it would be good...

That could potentially be an excellent area - the Burges, with its medieval cottages, plus the ancient old Grammar School (Actually a medieval hospital, and I think it's an ancient monument). All those horrible fast food places are going - excellent news, as the area looks a real mess.

Is there going to be a demand for offices in Coventry? I notice that Belgrade Plaza now features a large office component (It didn't before). All good news - more horrible old post-war shacks gone, and something nice in its place. Should give the bottom of the Burges a real city square feel.

[rottersclub]

Park Court has been given the go-ahead. Main feature is a 19 storey tower opposite an existing 14 storey tower. Development is apartments, offices, retail, hotel and doctor's surgery.

http://www.cassidygroup.com/index2.htm

Looks like the post office are moving their sorting office from Bishop Street. Very good news. A chance to rid the city of an absolute monstrosity.

[rottersclub]

The planning application for the offices on Bishop Street/Well Street is here.

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=663045

It seems that a lot of the pictures don't work, but it does look good - offices, apartments, retail and also plenty of car parking. Oh, and a public square.

Also notice that "Paragon Park" is moving ahead in Foleshill (A huge development of offices, housing, retail, etc in one of the less desirable suburbs), and TATA maybe opening up a Research centre in Ansty, employing 1000 people, mainly highly skilled engineers - they currently have offices at Warwick Uni. This'll be alongside the Medical research centre that the Two Universities and hospital are planning.

Coventry's city centre is going to be radically different soon - with developments like Belgrade Plaza and Park Court offering retail/commercial "malls" away from the existing precinct, and also the planned Station Development, I wonder if we'll see the city centre itself become "multi-centred"?!? I can't see that the precinct has much of a future, myself.

[rottersclub]

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=city-facing-new-homes-boom%26method=full%26objectid=17987065%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

9000 new homes for Coventry.

One can only assume that this is going to be "upward" housing, as there is certainly no land available for vast estates of new houses.

[Dr Pepper]

Well you won't build many of the 9000 new homes with the government grant of £888,888.

[rottersclub]

Well you won't build many of the 9000 new homes with the government grant of £888,888.

I would assume that's a subsidy.

Also notice plans for a huge business park in Whitley:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=662658

[ccfc-4-life]

wow

[inspired]

it all seems very quite on this thread, seems like theres allot going on the background through, i.e.-jag whitley; ansty site;

Does anyone know when the plans are going to be finalised for the swanswell initiative. I hope they take that part of the ring road down. It all depends how confident and bold the Conservative Council is :no:

[sleslie48]

Yeah it is all a bit quiet.

For those of you that don't know this is what I know:

The belgrade plaza car park is now open. The lifts are quite cool, considering it is just a car park.

The Belgrade theatre is now due to open in sept 2007 - so delayed by 9 months.

One of the residential tower blocks near where I live has been painted, which makes it look better, within reason, although I'm not really sure their look is the biggest problem with them.

Far gosford street is now undergoing improvements, not sure how much theyre doing, maybe just re-arranging the pavement. I know theres a few buildings that are being restored/rennovated.

At the end of far gosford st there is some student accomodation going up very rapidly.

Oh and the city archieves part of the Herbert Art Gallery has been knocked down the site is now being prepared for whatever the plans now are for its extention.

Finally the uni is planning to build a new students union on the car park next to the herbert/opposite the Ellen Terry building (old odeon cinema).

Thats all I can think of for now. The Ikea site still just has big poles in the ground at the moment I think! Oh apparently a new traffic control system is going to be implemeted all over the city to aid traffic flow, particularly around the Ricoh.

You probably all knew all this already but never mind, there wasn't much else being said.

[Dr Pepper]

Does anyone know what happened to the old Alhambra pub? It was removed when they built the Phoenix Initiative and was attached to the old ribbon factory that is know Nandos/flats. It looked to be a very old timber frame building. Was it skipped or dismantled? And if it was dismantled where is it now? It seemed to good to end up as landfill.

[rottersclub]

Does anyone know what happened to the old Alhambra pub? It was removed when they built the Phoenix Initiative and was attached to the old ribbon factory that is know Nandos/flats. It looked to be a very old timber frame building. Was it skipped or dismantled? And if it was dismantled where is it now? It seemed to good to end up as landfill.

It wasn't old - it was Mock Tudor, Edwardian, I believe.

I notice that plans are moving forward with Ansty - business Park, maybe TATA design/engineering centre, and the medical park. Whitley as well.

These are all good - more jobs and varied industries, and generally high skill/high pay.

Apparently, office space demand is growing in Coventry - Belgrade Plaza, Bishop Street all contain office developments, as does Cannon Kirk's station development [Wonder when we'll see designs?] One pressing need is for severe improvements to retail.

[rottersclub]

it all seems very quite on this thread, seems like theres allot going on the background through, i.e.-jag whitley; ansty site;

Does anyone know when the plans are going to be finalised for the swanswell initiative. I hope they take that part of the ring road down. It all depends how confident and bold the Conservative Council is :no:

I'm hoping that they do take it down. One aspect that may influence this is the financing. The land freed up by the removal of the ringroad and the flyovers will be valuable and generate considerably income for the council.

[rottersclub]

Yeah it is all a bit quiet.

For those of you that don't know this is what I know:

The belgrade plaza car park is now open. The lifts are quite cool, considering it is just a car park.

The Belgrade theatre is now due to open in sept 2007 - so delayed by 9 months.

One of the residential tower blocks near where I live has been painted, which makes it look better, within reason, although I'm not really sure their look is the biggest problem with them.

Far gosford street is now undergoing improvements, not sure how much theyre doing, maybe just re-arranging the pavement. I know theres a few buildings that are being restored/rennovated.

At the end of far gosford st there is some student accomodation going up very rapidly.

Oh and the city archieves part of the Herbert Art Gallery has been knocked down the site is now being prepared for whatever the plans now are for its extention.

Finally the uni is planning to build a new students union on the car park next to the herbert/opposite the Ellen Terry building (old odeon cinema).

Thats all I can think of for now. The Ikea site still just has big poles in the ground at the moment I think! Oh apparently a new traffic control system is going to be implemeted all over the city to aid traffic flow, particularly around the Ricoh.

You probably all knew all this already but never mind, there wasn't much else being said.

I didn't know about the student union building on that land. It's about time they filled that gap in - that street needs to be more enclosed.

Herbert extension is a huge glass wavy building.

[sleslie48]

Yeah I've always thought something needed to go there, such a waste. To be honest would have prefered something non uni, but that is the uni area now and a new su is needed. The herbert should be good too, quite like the wavy glass design but with all their delays and funding problems, didnt know if it was still the same design. That area's intresting to look at now, wide open view of the cathedrals and the main herbert building is surprising intact where the city archieve building used to be! You can see how it was an extention.

[Dr Pepper]

The old fire station conversion into a restaurant is nearly complete, the new extension on it doesn't look to bad either. I also noticed the base for at least one tower crane going in at the Ikea site. Apparently its going to be open by November next year which seems a bit of a tight deadline to me.

Any word as to when Millennium View will start?

[Dr Pepper]

There is a great website here about a couple of guys who walked along the river Sherbourne through the city centre:

http://www.lightingthedarkness.co.uk/Sherbourne.htm

I wonder if/how the river will feature in any future development schemes.

[rottersclub]

There is a great website here about a couple of guys who walked along the river Sherbourne through the city centre:

http://www.lightingthedarkness.co.uk/Sherbourne.htm

I wonder if/how the river will feature in any future development schemes.

I doubt it - it's too small to be of any use, really!

I'm 40,000 words into a novel that has a scene set in a place similar to the river sherbourne on those photos.

Have they decided who is going to do Millennium View?

I notice there's a development of office space/retail space at the Rugby ground. Cov certainly seems to be gaining more office space at the moment.

[rottersclub]

The old fire station conversion into a restaurant is nearly complete, the new extension on it doesn't look to bad either. I also noticed the base for at least one tower crane going in at the Ikea site. Apparently its going to be open by November next year which seems a bit of a tight deadline to me.

Any word as to when Millennium View will start?

It's open now - bar is called Escape and the restaurant is called "Mylo". Might try it out sometime.

I notice there are plans to introduce Nuneaton -> Leamington rail services and build new stations on the line: Kenilworth, Foleshill (Cov), and Bermuda Park (Nuneaton). At the moment to go from Nuneaton to Leamington, you have to change in Coventry.

If it's a success, they may run the trains from Coleshill -> Stratford.

About time they utilised this line properly.

[Dr Pepper]

I notice there are plans to introduce Nuneaton -> Leamington rail services and build new stations on the line: Kenilworth, Foleshill (Cov), and Bermuda Park (Nuneaton). At the moment to go from Nuneaton to Leamington, you have to change in Coventry.

Would this be a new station for Arena Park or reopening on the old Foleshill station site?

[rottersclub]

I notice there are plans to introduce Nuneaton -> Leamington rail services and build new stations on the line: Kenilworth, Foleshill (Cov), and Bermuda Park (Nuneaton). At the moment to go from Nuneaton to Leamington, you have to change in Coventry.

Would this be a new station for Arena Park or reopening on the old Foleshill station site?

Arena Park - Hasn't the site of the old Foleshill Station been built on?

[sleslie48]

sounds very promising, that line defiantely has a lot of potential. Fire Station looks really good, hopefully with whatever goes in Millenium view, that area will be good for eating/nightlife. A great area to link with swanswell.

[rottersclub]

I notice the office development on Well Street/Bishop Street has been given the go-ahead... All those old shacks are going to be demolished and hopefully someone will do something to the old grammar schoo/hospital.

[rottersclub]

Looks like the huge technology/business park at Whitley is going ahead - permission been granted.

Also noted there's the application (Approved) for this mini tower (14 floors, I believe) on Corporation Street (Albert Buildings)

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=610889

Looks like a new plan has been put in by new company and architect:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=664469

This is the architect:

http://www.hawkinsbrown.co.uk/index_2.html

What was proposed was rather bland. There are no details yet with the application... So can't see what they're planning!

[Jags]

i know i dont come on here that often but i found some interesting news
Governetz takes Lyons share in Bradford and Coventry

Bradford and Coventry City Councils are linking up with government relocation specialist Governetz to develop 1m sq ft (92,900 sq m) of brownfield land.


28.04.2006

By Molly Dover

Governetz's development arm, which advises central and local government on relocation in the wake of the Lyons Report and has £300m (£209m) of institutional funding, has entered into agreements for two 500,000 sq ft (46,450 sq m) schemes on former car parks in Bradford and Coventry.

Karen O'Hehir, director at Governetz Commercial, said: ‘We will acquire these sites from the councils and will be jointly marketing the sites to those departments relocating from London. We are in discussions on the details of the acquisitions at the moment.'

The Bradford scheme, on the Exchange Court site, will include 65,000 sq ft (6,039 sq m) for the city's Magistrates Court, up to 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) of serviced office space run by Regus, and an office campus of around 300,000 sq ft (27,870 sq m) designed to meet the requirements of government departments relocating from London. The remainder is likely to be shops, cafes and residential.

Governetz Commercial is in discussions with the Magistrates Court to move to the site. Laing O'Rourke will carry out construction.

Governetz Commercial is to meet with architects and planners to finalise the design of the Bradford scheme in the second week of May, and submit a planning application.

Although the site is owned by the city council, it is included in Will Alsop's masterplan for the city. Any plans must therefore be approved by the Bradford urban regeneration company as well as the city council.

In Coventry, Governetz Commercial proposes to redevelop the St John's car park in the city centre into a 500,000 sq ft (46,450 sq m) mixed-use scheme.

The city council owns the site, and the company was due to meet with the council on Wednesday to discuss its proposals. These include up to 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) of serviced offices operated by Regus, a hotel, retail and office space of up to 400,000 sq ft (37,161 sq m).

sounds good.

[Jags]

oh and i found this too,

Arlington’s most prominent purchase is at Browns Lane in Coventry, where Ford has chosen it as preferred developer for the 88 acre (35.9 ha) Jaguar car manufacturing plant.

It is understood that part of the site, which has been operational since 1951 and is home to Jaguar’s heritage centre, will be retained. The remainder will be developed into a combination of big and small units.

Arlington is expected to pay £26m-£28m for the site, which houses 1m sq ft (92,900 sq m) of manufacturing facilities. The purchase is likely to complete before the end of the year.

[rottersclub]

i know i dont come on here that often but i found some interesting news
Governetz takes Lyons share in Bradford and Coventry

Bradford and Coventry City Councils are linking up with government relocation specialist Governetz to develop 1m sq ft (92,900 sq m) of brownfield land.


28.04.2006

By Molly Dover

Governetz's development arm, which advises central and local government on relocation in the wake of the Lyons Report and has £300m (£209m) of institutional funding, has entered into agreements for two 500,000 sq ft (46,450 sq m) schemes on former car parks in Bradford and Coventry.

Karen O'Hehir, director at Governetz Commercial, said: ‘We will acquire these sites from the councils and will be jointly marketing the sites to those departments relocating from London. We are in discussions on the details of the acquisitions at the moment.'

The Bradford scheme, on the Exchange Court site, will include 65,000 sq ft (6,039 sq m) for the city's Magistrates Court, up to 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) of serviced office space run by Regus, and an office campus of around 300,000 sq ft (27,870 sq m) designed to meet the requirements of government departments relocating from London. The remainder is likely to be shops, cafes and residential.

Governetz Commercial is in discussions with the Magistrates Court to move to the site. Laing O'Rourke will carry out construction.

Governetz Commercial is to meet with architects and planners to finalise the design of the Bradford scheme in the second week of May, and submit a planning application.

Although the site is owned by the city council, it is included in Will Alsop's masterplan for the city. Any plans must therefore be approved by the Bradford urban regeneration company as well as the city council.

In Coventry, Governetz Commercial proposes to redevelop the St John's car park in the city centre into a 500,000 sq ft (46,450 sq m) mixed-use scheme.

The city council owns the site, and the company was due to meet with the council on Wednesday to discuss its proposals. These include up to 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) of serviced offices operated by Regus, a hotel, retail and office space of up to 400,000 sq ft (37,161 sq m).

sounds good.

Yes, indeed, another mixed scheme for Coventry. Where is St John's Car park? Is it the one by the police station?

The good news is all the office space that is planned for the city centre - they seem to have seen that there's a downfall in the demand for apartments in other cities and are using the space for office developments.

Coventry is going to be a very different city in a few years time.

[rottersclub]

oh and i found this too,

Arlington’s most prominent purchase is at Browns Lane in Coventry, where Ford has chosen it as preferred developer for the 88 acre (35.9 ha) Jaguar car manufacturing plant.

It is understood that part of the site, which has been operational since 1951 and is home to Jaguar’s heritage centre, will be retained. The remainder will be developed into a combination of big and small units.

Arlington is expected to pay £26m-£28m for the site, which houses 1m sq ft (92,900 sq m) of manufacturing facilities. The purchase is likely to complete before the end of the year.

That's more good news - Whitley, Ansty, and now this. Big employment sites, mixed use - mainly high tech (In the case of Ansty and Whitley) - could mean that Cov becomes the centre of the midland's high tech and medical industries!
(And more jobs for ME!)

[Jags]

the mixed use scheme is by the courts i think. Theres a car park there and im guessing its going to be pretty big.

[rottersclub]

sounds very promising, that line defiantely has a lot of potential. Fire Station looks really good, hopefully with whatever goes in Millenium view, that area will be good for eating/nightlife. A great area to link with swanswell.

The fire station is very nice inside. I've been to the MYO restaurant with some work colleagues. The food is a mixture of Chinese, Indian, Thai and Europe. You can also make your own stir-frys - hand the ingredients to the chef and he'll cook it how you want. The food is very good, but the mix - a bit odd, and one of our party only likes curries.

The building inside is gorgeous. Also been to the bar downstairs, which is OK - not my thing, though. I prefer the old Windmill (Real ale in medieval setting!) over expensive lager and dance music. But, it looks smart, and they're planning to bring some live music there (The Selecter have already played there.)

Also tried the new "My China" recently in priory place - lunch menu is a selection of Malaysia dishes and Dum Sums, and the a la carte has a lot of Malaysian stuff on it. I had a Beef Rendang which was very nice. Prices are OK, as well. Big restaurant as well. Priory place is now full, and with MYO and Escape that part of the city centre looks lively and has plenty of eateries - more when they finish it. It's just a shame it's a bit "isolated" and none of it really goes anywhere. I can't see the point of that bridge and the desolate Garden - They ought to build something on it instead.

[Jags]

i was just looking on the net and found an article relating to the government body that are moving to coventry.

Coventrys swot spots

Three developers are vying to land the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as a tenant in Coventry.


03.11.2006

By Stuart Watson

Coventry’s triumph in securing a big civil service relocation has created considerable excitement in the city’s property market. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority settled on Coventry this summer, disappointing rivals Birmingham, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Prompted by the 2004 Lyons Report on civil service relocation to the regions, the non-departmental government body will move up to 500 staff to the West Midlands from its headquarters on Piccadilly in central London.

It is likely to need 60,000-70,000 sq ft (5,574-6,503 sq m) of space to accommodate them.

Three developers – AXA Real Estate Investment Managers with Stoford Developments, Oakmoor, Deeley and Cannon Kirk –are now planning several office schemes in the centre of Coventry and each hopes the QCA will provide them with a valuable anchor tenant in a city that has seen little office development for 10 years. Coventry City Council also hopes the QCA will boost its regeneration efforts by selecting a new city centre development rather than taking existing buildings or locating outside the centre.

A QCA spokesman says the decision to come to Coventry was based on several factors, including the availability of property, recruitment, regenerative effect, diversity and the views of its staff, which rated Coventry, which is just over an hour from London by train, as the city most suited to commuting or short-term assignment.

Coventry is already home to several educational bodies including the Learning and Skills Council, the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the British Education Communications and Technology Authority. There is an advantage in terms of cross-working and recruitment.

Make official

The QCA plans a phased move from its 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) London headquarters at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, and has already started looking at properties in Coventry. However, the relocation still needs to be ratified by its board, the Treasury, the Department for Education and Skills and the Office of Government Commerce.

‘We wouldn’t rule out any particular option, but it will probably be within the boundaries of Coventry,’ says the spokesman. ‘Most QCA staff in London use public transport and accessibility to that will be a factor in the decision.’

The city council has provided the QCA with a list of about 20 possible sites in and around the city, but would like it to locate in the centre.

‘We have explained the benefits we see in the city centre,’ says head of property development Paul Beesley. ‘Expansion space

on the business parks is now very limited and we want to see a significant expansion of offices close to or in the city centre. That, coupled with the redevelopment of Coventry’s retail heart, will provide the basis for creating the regional centre we believe the city should be.’

Lyons’ suggestion that civil service relocation should have a regenerative effect and easy access to the railway station means that three city centre developments – the Chapel Street/Bishop Street site, Belgrade Plaza and Park Court – are widely regarded as the most likely homes for the QCA.

A joint venture between Axa REIM and Stoford Developments plans a £23m mixed-use scheme on a 2 acre (0.8 ha) site at the junction of Chapel Street and Bishop Street on the north side of the city centre. The development will include an 84,500 sq ft (7,850 sq m) six-storey office building as well as shops and flats.

A detailed planning application for the scheme was submitted in September. Stoford development director David Brown has discussed the building with the QCA.

‘If they locate there it will ensure it will go ahead very quickly but, subject to advice, I’d like to think it will come forward as a speculative development anyway,’ he says.

Oakmoor Deeley, a joint venture between Coventry-based Deeley Properties and Oakmoor Estates, is developing the £100m Belgrade Plaza mixed-use scheme on the west side of the city centre, and is also wooing the QCA.

Oakmoor managing director Mike Jones says part of the residential element of the third phase of the scheme could be changed to office use to accommodate the requirement.

‘It has been a stimulus to come up with something that fits their needs, but if we aren’t selected by the QCA then we may still go ahead with the offices. We are aware of other requirements,’ he says.

The developer has already secured tenants for the scheme’s second phase, including Radisson Edwardian and Premier Travel Inn for Hotels – the former including 12,000 sq ft (1,115 sq m) of conference space – and Gala for a casino. Oakmoor Deeley is considering putting the second phase scheme up for sale.

‘A government prelet would help us enormously,’ says David Penn, commercial director at Shortland Horne, joint agent for the development with Wright Silverwood. ‘We think we have a good chance because of Belgrade Plaza’s mixed-use nature, the conference facilities and good access to the ring road.

It’s only a short walk to the railway station.’

Station approach

Even closer to the station is Cannon Kirk’s Park Court site. The Irish developer intends to submit a planning application this month for 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) on the former Revenue and Customs site south of the city centre.

‘We will have something to offer early relocators to Coventry. It’s within the QCA’s timescale and the station location fits a lot of their requirements,’ claims David Holt, a director at the developer’s agent, D&P Holt.

Cannon Kirk has also commissioned architect Terry Farrell & Partners to produce a masterplan for the adjacent station area, which is largely within its ownership after a series of acquisitions over the last three years. Plans for a 3m sq ft (278,707 sq m) ‘commercially orientated’ mixed-use development will be prepared by February 2007.

The developers of the city centre schemes will hope the QCA does not follow many other Coventry office occupiers on to the city’s business parks. Out-of-town locations likely to be considered include British Land’s New Century Park at the former Marconi site and the St Modwen-owned Jaguar expansion land at Whitley. ProLogis Park Coventry has planning permission for a 75,000 sq ft (6,968 sq m) office building and Pettifer is developing an office scheme at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.

Opus Land has purchased a 90,000 sq ft (8,361 sq m) building and 20 acres (8 ha) of land from IBM near Warwick Parkway station.

‘The QCA and other Lyons relocations might prefer sites that capture Coventry’s employment without being in the city,’ says Opus managing director Richard Smith.

One outcome, which would please few in the Coventry property market, would be for QCA to take existing office space in the city.

The Learning and Skills Council, which occupies around 105,000 sq ft (9,755 sq m) not far from the station at Parkside, is cutting its staff by 300 and will need to dispose of a considerable amount of space.

With developer and investor confidence growing day by day, it will not be long before Coventry sees the first of the speculative city centre office developments it needs to revitalise its business district.

[rottersclub]

I thought Cassidy were doing Park Court.....

Has this been canned now?

[Jags]

i think cannon kirk bought the development, my friend bought a flat at the site off plan and a few months ago they offered him a refund because the development was being delayed. but im sure a planning application was submitted to the council and approved, the development sold really well because all the flats sold within weeks. I did try and buy one but they were all gone. The same happened with Belgarde Plaza, all of the flats in the first phase have been sold according to Shortland Horne.

[rottersclub]

i think cannon kirk bought the development, my friend bought a flat at the site off plan and a few months ago they offered him a refund because the development was being delayed. but im sure a planning application was submitted to the council and approved, the development sold really well because all the flats sold within weeks. I did try and buy one but they were all gone. The same happened with Belgarde Plaza, all of the flats in the first phase have been sold according to Shortland Horne.

Any reason given for the delay?

[Jags]

no, they just said that it was because they had sold the development. But im sure its something to do with the overall masterplan for that area, they may even try and link the site with the station site over the road. But im looking forward to the masterplan for the area in Feb, i hope its something bold and inspirational, Cov council are so behind other cities in the UK, they are so backwards and slow and i think this is making developers think twice about developing in the city.

[rottersclub]

no, they just said that it was because they had sold the development. But im sure its something to do with the overall masterplan for that area, they may even try and link the site with the station site over the road. But im looking forward to the masterplan for the area in Feb, i hope its something bold and inspirational, Cov council are so behind other cities in the UK, they are so backwards and slow and i think this is making developers think twice about developing in the city.

One thing I have noticed is that they seem overly protective of the older stuff. Let's face it, that consists of a few scraps here and there, and the local Coventry Society group are an absolute pain the neck. The lack of progress on Swanswell is disappointing, as was the idiotic decision to keep that stupid bus station.

Having said that, judging by the amount of development - which seems to be quite a lot more than other simialr sized cities - it seems that there is a lot of interest in developing the city.

[Jags]

I agree about the bus station its an absolute mess and is in completely the wrong place, but i have this feeling that it will be knocked down eventually, its just not viable from a business point of view, the council were loosing something like £700k a year on it and even with all the buses now going there, i still dont see it working. As regards to the swanswell development, i think once the hospital site has been sold and cleared it will make a huge difference, i did read about a development going up there with a 12 story tower, not sure where abouts in the devellopment though, it was in the pre-planning stages. The college building has gone up quick and looks very big, i think this will be good once its done. One thing that it gettin on my last nerve is the old council depot site,its been derelict for about 3-4 years now, im shocked that the council still havnt done anything about it, its prime land.
On the other hand the Ikea building has started to go up, i saw the steel structure going up the other day.

[rottersclub]

I agree about the bus station its an absolute mess and is in completely the wrong place, but i have this feeling that it will be knocked down eventually, its just not viable from a business point of view, the council were loosing something like £700k a year on it and even with all the buses now going there, i still dont see it working. As regards to the swanswell development, i think once the hospital site has been sold and cleared it will make a huge difference, i did read about a development going up there with a 12 story tower, not sure where abouts in the devellopment though, it was in the pre-planning stages. The college building has gone up quick and looks very big, i think this will be good once its done. One thing that it gettin on my last nerve is the old council depot site,its been derelict for about 3-4 years now, im shocked that the council still havnt done anything about it, its prime land.
On the other hand the Ikea building has started to go up, i saw the steel structure going up the other day.

The 12 storey tower is "Godiva Place", currently occupied by that horrible "surface technology" building... Just near the roundabout at the bottom of sky blue way. That area has a lot of old victorian houses, but it looks so disgusting at the moment...

I drive down to the Ikea roundabout every morning on the way to work, and there's a large steel structure appeared over the last couple of weeks. It is going to dominate that area very much.

I wonder what the new Victoria buildings development will look like.


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=4622

[rottersclub]

Notice there's a 39 storey one up for Leicester... given that Cov and Leicester are about the same size, wonder if we'll get anything like this in Cov? [Or are they too obsessed with anything being taller than the Cathedral Spire.] Although Coventry Airport's proximity may cause problems.

Missed out - Belgrade Plaza and Park Court would have been perfect locations for something of this size.

[Jags]

i did have a render of the victoria buildings, they were ok but werent fantastic. I think that the development has changed hands but theres no info on the company thats doing it. The leicester building is a real shock, for a city that size to have a building that tall is fantastic, i think the tallest in cov is 20 storeys, with Park court being 19 and the development next to the Ramada being about 17 and belgrade about 15/16. But there are protected views of the cathedral so anything in the city center will be limited, but could be different on the fringes of the center like the station area. I also think that Cannon Kirk will be keeping station tower as they are marketing refurbished office suites in the building. The only way Coventry will truely make an impact is to really sort out its retail offering, west orchards should be knocked down and rebuilt so that it flows with belgrade plaza, by demolishing that horrible building where allied carpets is. They need to have a development like the highcross one that has started in Leicester, i think it looks fantastic. Oh and apparantly the office tower next to woolworths was sold to someone in 2005 for 2.3 million, hopefully this will be redeveloped and reclad(fingers crossed).

[Dr Pepper]

The tower block next to Woolworths needs more than a reclad, it needs to be demolished. You can't polish a turd. Even if it were to be reclad to give it quality, modern look it's base would still act as a barrier in the middle of Smithford Way. It certainly doesn't encourage people to go beyond. Even it they did there is not a lot to see. That part of the Precinct really needs a anchor to pull people there. I'm not sure people will walk there on their way to Ikea.

I like the idea of the Arcade but it needs improving. If there was a money-is-no-problem option I would rebuild it in the style of Lanes in Brighton and encourage independent shops to move in.

At the other end West Orchards needs pulling down. Its a massively underwelming ugly grey block that looks as if it fell out the sky and landed on Coventry. The inside decor looks as though it was designed in 1986. If they are going to rebuild West Orchards I would give it street frontage on Corporation St from the Co-op building round to the Smithford Pub at the bottom of the Burges. There is not a lot in between that would be worth keeping and it could even have a street frontage to replace the the post-war buildings on the left hand side of the Burges (with your back to Primark facing the canel basin).

Would this be too big? Drain life from the rest of the centre? or pull in more people/businesses and compete with Birmingham? Discuss.

[Jags]

i agree, but to pull a building of that size down would be very unlikely, i agree that the whole area around west orchards needs demolishing including the tower next to west orchards. Coventry needs more than one department store in the center, the reason that the affluent people in coventry(which there are alot of if you take into account warwick, kenilworth, gibbet hill next to warwick uni and the rest of the south of coventry) dont use the city center is because its so run down and undesirable, they end up going to birmingham, solihull and leamington. I think they would use the city centre if there was something there to go for. There is now the neccesary clout in terms of development for the council to promote the owners of the mall to consider upgrading it. In relation to competeing with birmingham, this will never happen, it is too big a city, i think there are enough people in the coventry and warwickshire region to more than support a development of this size, if a development were to occur it must be something bold to catch the imagination of the local people and to gain recognition as a city that people must visit. I think with the development of ikea and belgrade plaza there is a real opportunity to link all the developments together and really creat a real center.

[Jags]

Major Regeneration of Coventry Railway Station Area
Coventry City Council is to work in partnership with developer,
Cannon Kirk on a proposal for a mixed-use scheme of up to three
million sq ft, which will transform an 8-hectare site around Coventry
Station into a vibrant gateway to the city.
World-renowned urban design and master planning practice Terry Farrell & Partners has been appointed to create a masterplan for the site, which will include high quality office and residential accommodation incorporating leisure and retail uses. The scheme named Friargate, will provide a cohesive transport interchange between the railway station, buses, taxis and the
600 car parking spaces that will be created for rail commuters. Enhanced pedestrian access routes will also be incorporated into the new scheme to link
the station to the city centre, which is just 10 minutes’ walk away. Currently, a dual carriageway ring road located between the station and the city centre forms a perceived barrier to pedestrians. The delivery of city centre residential and leisure space will also be a major driver in the creation of a thriving evening economy in the area, breathing new life into the inner city. Cannon Kirk controls the majority of land within the masterplan area, having acquired a number of buildings as part of a site assembly programme. The area currently houses a number of older, partly vacant office buildings, together with small retail units and flats. Michael Broughton, Chief Executive of Cannon Kirk UK Ltd, said: “Coventry has the potential to become a world-class city. The development will be a key element in realising that potential, with a successful, growing economy and a vibrant and accessible city centre. We look forward to working in partnership with the City Council to deliver this
exciting regeneration scheme.” Coventry has excellent transport links, being located less than one hour by train from London and 12 minutes from the NEC in Birmingham. Coventry City Councillor Dave Arrowsmith Cabinet Member for Urban Regeneration and Regional Planning commented, “Coventry is undergoing an exciting transformation and Friargate will deliver the highest quality office accommodation, which we are convinced will be a major
draw for inward re-locators and investors. News that work is set to start
on this key access to the city centre reflects the growing stature of Coventry
as a key destination for national and international companies. This
development will further assist our integrated approach to creating an attractive, vibrant, prosperous and growing city"
Why call it Friars Gate? the Gate bit i get but Friars...hmmmmm not sure, i get the link with the guildhall, cathedral etc... but could they not come up with something that sounded better.

[rottersclub]

Retail in Coventry is dead - they don't need to reclad or tart it up. They need wholesale demolition of the whole lot. It's got NO street frontage, it doesn't flow anywhere, and it looks absolutely HORRIBLE. Even worse, the combination of precinct ghetto and dead, useless land around the ringroad means Coventry has no continuity of streets for retail development. And the shops themselves are dismal.

IKEA isn't going to help. People will drive to Ikea and drive out. They're not going to go out into Spon Street (And be confronted by two vile kebab houses) or even go into the City Arcade, which is frankly horrible.

The problem with Coventry is that after the war Donald Gibson proposed a huge plan for the whole city centre. Some of it was followed, but a lot was thrown out and the plan reduced to a mish-mash of half-assed ideas that haven't worked. As a result, the city centre has become a half-assed collection of bits and pieces that aren't linked up, streets that don't go anywhere, flyovers and subways that are decaying and ugly.

I love priory place, but it's DEAD. There's never anyone there! It doesn't go anywhere! The bridge over the city walls - how many cities of this size can claim to have two medieval gates? - doesn't go anywhere. Whitefriars Street doesn't go anywhere... Nowhere goes anywhere. You either wander aimless around the precinct, or drive round the ringroad to get to the car parks. Coventry's never going to be like Leicester, Leeds, Manchester, as it doesn't have the streets and the buildings that can be converted to social/leisure/business purposes. It's got civic buildings, a rubbish precinct, a rubbish medieval street, and a whole University... And flyovers. Lots of flyovers, roundabouts, car parks and dead ends.

At the moment the precint consists of mobile phone shops and not a lot else... Apart from closed down units. They can't even fill PRIME units in prime spots anymore... The old MVC has been closed for a year now, and that whole area is 25% empty. The old Litten Tree pub is still closed after about 2 years! City Arcade changes every week!

Who's going to want to buy an apartment in a city centre with such poor shops? Or move their business there?

I was in the deli on corporation street a few years back, and a woman asked the owner why they didn't open in the mornings. Reason: no business. No office workers.

The place is a mess. I can't see how they can reverse 60 years of atrocious planning, lousy architecture and pathetic road systems.

Brummies complain about Digbeth - Coventry doesn't even have a coach station! And the old one, White Street, was disgusting... And the boneheaded locals are STILL calling for it to be reopened. It was in the centre of the a bloody wall of concrete! I sometimes wonder if the bombs didn't affect the people in this city, as most of them seem to be boneheads. As I said in another thread, Coventry folk seem to like crap. I think they're worried that if they try to make Coventry decent, they won't have any reason to moan anymore. Meanwhile, all the graduates from the two Universities go and get jobs elsewhere... Talk about bleeding your skills away.

[rottersclub]

i agree, but to pull a building of that size down would be very unlikely, i agree that the whole area around west orchards needs demolishing including the tower next to west orchards. Coventry needs more than one department store in the center, the reason that the affluent people in coventry(which there are alot of if you take into account warwick, kenilworth, gibbet hill next to warwick uni and the rest of the south of coventry) dont use the city center is because its so run down and undesirable, they end up going to birmingham, solihull and leamington. I think they would use the city centre if there was something there to go for. There is now the neccesary clout in terms of development for the council to promote the owners of the mall to consider upgrading it. In relation to competeing with birmingham, this will never happen, it is too big a city, i think there are enough people in the coventry and warwickshire region to more than support a development of this size, if a development were to occur it must be something bold to catch the imagination of the local people and to gain recognition as a city that people must visit. I think with the development of ikea and belgrade plaza there is a real opportunity to link all the developments together and really creat a real center.

South Coventry and Warwickshire is very wealthy, yet none of this wealth flows back into the city centre. Coventry's retail spending is LOWER than Leamington's. If anything, Leamington is the main shopping town in Coventry & Warwickshire.

Brum is no excuse - places like Solihull and Wolves have more retail spend than Coventry, and Wolves is a far less wealthier place. And you could even say that Leicester is almost as close to Brum as Coventry is, yet Leicester seems to be thriving. There are huge reasons why people in Cov & Warwickshire (In Coventry and Warwickshire itself there are over 1 million folk, and the majority of that is in the Coventry economic area) shun the city and the council seem oblivious to it - the city centre's just SHIT, and the majority of people don't like the shops, don't like the road system, and don't even like the slack jawed pikeys that overrun the place.

This is a city that turns medieval buildings into Kebab houses. It about sums it up.

I have to say that me and wife now go to Leamington or Leicester for shopping. We have been doing so for some time. We've pretty much given up on Coventry.

[Jags]

lol, your right about everything going nowhere, there are some good developments in the city but they dont gel, theres no cohesion and untill this happens people will feel intimidated to go and look at these areas. One thing i hate is the chavs that seem to be over running the area its unbelievable, its like they have a hidden pact to jus congregate in coventry center

[rottersclub]

Major Regeneration of Coventry Railway Station Area
Coventry City Council is to work in partnership with developer,
Cannon Kirk on a proposal for a mixed-use scheme of up to three
million sq ft, which will transform an 8-hectare site around Coventry
Station into a vibrant gateway to the city.
World-renowned urban design and master planning practice Terry Farrell & Partners has been appointed to create a masterplan for the site, which will include high quality office and residential accommodation incorporating leisure and retail uses. The scheme named Friargate, will provide a cohesive transport interchange between the railway station, buses, taxis and the
600 car parking spaces that will be created for rail commuters. Enhanced pedestrian access routes will also be incorporated into the new scheme to link
the station to the city centre, which is just 10 minutes’ walk away. Currently, a dual carriageway ring road located between the station and the city centre forms a perceived barrier to pedestrians. The delivery of city centre residential and leisure space will also be a major driver in the creation of a thriving evening economy in the area, breathing new life into the inner city. Cannon Kirk controls the majority of land within the masterplan area, having acquired a number of buildings as part of a site assembly programme. The area currently houses a number of older, partly vacant office buildings, together with small retail units and flats. Michael Broughton, Chief Executive of Cannon Kirk UK Ltd, said: “Coventry has the potential to become a world-class city. The development will be a key element in realising that potential, with a successful, growing economy and a vibrant and accessible city centre. We look forward to working in partnership with the City Council to deliver this
exciting regeneration scheme.” Coventry has excellent transport links, being located less than one hour by train from London and 12 minutes from the NEC in Birmingham. Coventry City Councillor Dave Arrowsmith Cabinet Member for Urban Regeneration and Regional Planning commented, “Coventry is undergoing an exciting transformation and Friargate will deliver the highest quality office accommodation, which we are convinced will be a major
draw for inward re-locators and investors. News that work is set to start
on this key access to the city centre reflects the growing stature of Coventry
as a key destination for national and international companies. This
development will further assist our integrated approach to creating an attractive, vibrant, prosperous and growing city"
Why call it Friars Gate? the Gate bit i get but Friars...hmmmmm not sure, i get the link with the guildhall, cathedral etc... but could they not come up with something that sounded better.

Friargate may reflect the name of the one the city gates that was near there? Coventry had 12 gates, and at least a few of them had "Friar" in them. The development is, however, nowhere near the old Greyfriars or Whitefriars abbeys, and that part of the city isn't particularly old. The medieval suburbs were around Spon End and Gosford Street.

Why am I unexcited by this? All the plans in Cov at the moment seem to be being sold on and altered... We keep hearing about how great it is going to be, yet there's little evidence that it's anything more than hot air.

I mean, this is a major city that doesn't even have an upmarket department store. Even Richer Sounds closed down! LOL!:)

[rottersclub]

lol, your right about everything going nowhere, there are some good developments in the city but they dont gel, theres no cohesion and untill this happens people will feel intimidated to go and look at these areas. One thing i hate is the chavs that seem to be over running the area its unbelievable, its like they have a hidden pact to jus congregate in coventry center

The Chavs prob. show up more because everyone else has deserted the place!

[Jags]

Even Richer Sounds closed down! LOL!:)[/QUOTE]

lol, i was just thinking and as im aware the only electrical store in the city centre is the Sony Centre, thats crazy, how can a city of our size have one electrical store in its centre. i know the shopping provision is crap but the rentals in the precinct are really high, i mean Bank the clothing shop that just opened are paying over 230k a year.

I was speaking to a friend the other day and she works for AXA in town and shes been made redundant and they are going to be closing the whole office down and moving to Peterborough.

On a positive note though another gov agency moved to cov recently, the QIA have moved in to the city as part of the Lyons Review.

[rottersclub]

Even Richer Sounds closed down! LOL!:)

lol, i was just thinking and as im aware the only electrical store in the city centre is the Sony Centre, thats crazy, how can a city of our size have one electrical store in its centre. i know the shopping provision is crap but the rentals in the precinct are really high, i mean Bank the clothing shop that just opened are paying over 230k a year.

I was speaking to a friend the other day and she works for AXA in town and shes been made redundant and they are going to be closing the whole office down and moving to Peterborough.

On a positive note though another gov agency moved to cov recently, the QIA have moved in to the city as part of the Lyons Review.[/quote]


You mean the whole AXA building is moving? I know they've made some redundancies recently. That building is the only major office employer in the city... If that goes they might as well just give up.

In some ways, having offices filled with civil servants isn't good for a city. Civil servants tend to be skilled in, um, one thing. Not good to have too much of it. Much better to have business like AXA.

[Jags]

they said the office may close down and move to Peterborough, its crazy. I just hope all the office space that is being built in the city is snapped up all developers are going to pack up and desert coventry again.Not good!

[rottersclub]

Latest News December 2006

Team Coventry head to MIPIM.

An unprecedented alliance of major developers and agents will give Coventry its largest ever presence at the biggest commercial property show in the world.
A group of eight commercial property companies, supported by Coventry City Council, is set to promote the city at the MIPIM property show in Cannes, France in March.
Coventry has been represented at the show for the past 14 years but next year will be the first time ever that the private sector has come together to fund the presence at the show.
The group is set to host a string of events to attract investors and other leading players to the city where £6 billion is being spent on development.
It will be the first time that Cannon Kirk has showcased its 3 million sq ft regeneration of the station quarter – Friargate - to the international property industry.
Cannon Kirk UK Chief Executive Michael Broughton said the fact that there was so much co-operation between property professionals boded well for the city.
“We believe that Coventry is on the verge of great things and that feeling is only strengthened by the common will to make it succeed. We all want the city to develop and grow and we are backing that desire with very considerable investment”
“MIPIM is recognised as the greatest showcase event in the property world which is why we want to promote Friargate, our transformation of the area around the station, but the very fact that everyone is working together will allow the city to punch above its weight. The sense of co-operation gives us great heart for the future of the city.”
The Coventry delegation and the investment and business team of the City Council has arranged a string of events and showcases aimed at different areas of the market. They will also be working closely with Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Developers Alliance to promote the region as a whole, and Coventry’s role in it.
Companies funding the Coventry push include Cannon Kirk, Deeley Properties, Oakmoor Estates, Howard Holdings, Cassidy Developments, Isle of Capri, Shortland Horne, D&P Holt.
Peter Deeley, of Oakmoor Deeley which is behind the £130 million Belgrade Plaza scheme, said the fact so many companies had come together to help showcase developments in the city reflected its standing as a growing force.
“We have been involved in the city for 70 years and I don’t think – with the exception of the post war years – there has ever been development and planned development on this scale.
“Belgrade Plaza is already underway and there are many more schemes in the pipeline which will only help bring new investment to the city.
“Coventry has been making headlines in the national property press and there is no doubt that the rest of the country is sitting up and taking notice of what is going on here.
“The idea of the increased presence at MIPIM is to build on that momentum and to make sure that the major players in the international property scene are aware of the exciting potential that lies in Coventry.”
Coventry City Council’s Investment Business team is managing the presence at the four day event which will see the property companies hosting functions to promote the city and their developments
Councillor Dave Arrowsmith Cabinet Member for Urban Regeneration and regional planning said: “MIPIM is the world’s leading property show and its right that Coventry is represented there. This will be the first time that the private sector has joined us to promote the city and the exciting regeneration that is underway.
“The fact that eight commercial property companies have decided to join us at MIPIM to promote Coventry is the clearest signal that they believe in the city as much as we do."


***********************************************

Interesting! Maybe my negativity is unfounded...!

[rottersclub]

they said the office may close down and move to Peterborough, its crazy. I just hope all the office space that is being built in the city is snapped up all developers are going to pack up and desert coventry again.Not good!

And Ericsson - formerly the equipment part of Marconi - may be moving to Loughborough (Including the Software team I used to work in!)

[rottersclub]

Coventry Regeneration projects scoops major award
Complex Development Projects have just been awarded the prestigious Insider Magazine, Regeneration Project of the Year Award for their work at Coventry's Electric Wharf.
CDP are lead partner on this project, where it is developing a derelict industrial complex on a site beside Coventry canal that was formerly the city's power station dating back to 1896. The whole complex comprises of some 121 units in varied use from offices for ICT businesses to loft residential.
The project also includes many sustainable features such as the recycling of 90% of the buildings demolished; the re use of steel and steel plate: railway sleepers as paving: and sedum roof's to encourage wildlife.
Units from 410 - 7000sq ft are available for businesses looking to relocate in the city.

[Jags]

yea i did read something about that, but they go every year and so far there hasnt been much investment from foreign markets.

[rottersclub]

yea i did read something about that, but they go every year and so far there hasnt been much investment from foreign markets.

I think this year the difference is that they actually have something to show people. Look, we've got some new stuff happening...

Apparently, development land outside the city centre is running out now...

[rottersclub]

The tower block next to Woolworths needs more than a reclad, it needs to be demolished. You can't polish a turd. Even if it were to be reclad to give it quality, modern look it's base would still act as a barrier in the middle of Smithford Way. It certainly doesn't encourage people to go beyond. Even it they did there is not a lot to see. That part of the Precinct really needs a anchor to pull people there. I'm not sure people will walk there on their way to Ikea.

I like the idea of the Arcade but it needs improving. If there was a money-is-no-problem option I would rebuild it in the style of Lanes in Brighton and encourage independent shops to move in.

At the other end West Orchards needs pulling down. Its a massively underwelming ugly grey block that looks as if it fell out the sky and landed on Coventry. The inside decor looks as though it was designed in 1986. If they are going to rebuild West Orchards I would give it street frontage on Corporation St from the Co-op building round to the Smithford Pub at the bottom of the Burges. There is not a lot in between that would be worth keeping and it could even have a street frontage to replace the the post-war buildings on the left hand side of the Burges (with your back to Primark facing the canel basin).

Would this be too big? Drain life from the rest of the centre? or pull in more people/businesses and compete with Birmingham? Discuss.

That tower block is ghastly. A real blot on the landscape, brutal and uninviting. The Burges area was going to be redeveloped along the lines you say, with smeller retailers, but I think they're onto a losing battle - the street may be the only pre-war street left, but it's a festering dump cluttered with junk food, pikey stores and awful pubs.

I believe the orignal plan was to develop the "Lanes" around the back. Not sure what's happening there - it's gone all quiet!

Coventry can't attract smaller, independent retailers - the folk who use the city centre want Primarks. Smaller stuff fails within months, and shops selling anything upmarket don't have a hope in hell. They might as well just pour their money down the drain.

I don't think it bodes well, though - having a strong retail sector helps attract investment. The only hope for Coventry is to do something like the bullring or that West Quay thing in Southampton. Just demolish a huge area and build a whopping big indoor mall, perhaps with tasteful links to some of the historic bits, and then ditch that whole precinct for good. And like you say, introduce it so it fronts some of the city's streets. Turd polishing simply isn't working, and Coventry's retail sector is worse now than it was 10 years ago - and that's after a heap of cash to redevelop it!

[rottersclub]

Victoria buildings has been redesigned:

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=664469

Looks a bit more interesting than the old design.

The council's new website is terrible - why can't they just put the PDF files up like before?

[Jags]

i thought it was just me having that problem, the system they use is terrible, i think i prefer the origional design, it looked very oriental to me. i hope they keep the idea of having a courtyard in the middle of the building i thought that was a nice little touch.

[Jags]

why would the victoria building need a bomb impact study? i like the roof terraces though. they look even better than the court yard design in the last one

[rottersclub]

why would the victoria building need a bomb impact study? i like the roof terraces though. they look even better than the court yard design in the last one

I gave up trying to look at it.... I didn't like the original design much, and I don't think I like this one much, either.

The bomb study is to determine if there could be any WWII bombs on this site. It's given a moderate to high risk rating.

[Jags]

oh rite, but surely they would have found something when they rebuilt that area after the blitz.

I went into the city centre today and my god what a shambles, even the lower precint ramp looks as if its 20 years old, its just so grimey.

I had a look at the belgrade theater today and i really dont like it, its just a black box, and on the rendering i saw it had a little glass section on the top which now seems as if its perspex, my dads workin on the development and said that they have no money what so ever and isnt even sure if they can afford to finish it. He said that the inside is so basic its jus concrete walls which wasnt in the origional plans, they have had to make so many cuts because of funding problems.

[rottersclub]

oh rite, but surely they would have found something when they rebuilt that area after the blitz.

I went into the city centre today and my god what a shambles, even the lower precint ramp looks as if its 20 years old, its just so grimey.

I had a look at the belgrade theater today and i really dont like it, its just a black box, and on the rendering i saw it had a little glass section on the top which now seems as if its perspex, my dads workin on the development and said that they have no money what so ever and isnt even sure if they can afford to finish it. He said that the inside is so basic its jus concrete walls which wasnt in the origional plans, they have had to make so many cuts because of funding problems.

I briefly nipped into town this morning, and it was deserted. I only stayed for 20 minutes!

The problem with WWII bombs is that if they hit the ground and didn't explode, they could burrow quite far into the ground, and after the war a lot of land was just filled in and left.

The Belgrade extension is ghastly - I can't believe anyone spent six years at architecture school to design that. It's just a box... Awful, and I imagine they'll be wanting to demolish it a few years later.

I suppose the good thing is that it'll be hidden by Belgrade Plaza. If it ever gets built!

[Jags]

yea thats true, one thing im shocked about is the fact that the outside isnt rendered properly its big blocks of polystyrene with a thin sheet over the top, they did this because it was cheaper to build, and around the side of the building theyve had to patch up parts because its falling off. just looks so bad.

Do you know whats happening with the old council depot area next to electric wharf?

[rottersclub]

yea thats true, one thing im shocked about is the fact that the outside isnt rendered properly its big blocks of polystyrene with a thin sheet over the top, they did this because it was cheaper to build, and around the side of the building theyve had to patch up parts because its falling off. just looks so bad.

Do you know whats happening with the old council depot area next to electric wharf?

Isn't being developed as part of "Electric Wharf"/Swanswell?

[Jags]

yea but whats actually going there? im sure i read somewhere it was going to be a creative arts and crafts/innovative business area.

iv just started a thread on iccoventry about getting west orchards knocked down, and so far the people who have replied have been so pesimistic. i just dont understand why people in coventry are so backwards and refuse to move forward.

[Jags]

Cassidy are doing a development in earlsdon called warwick court, its 3 storeys and looks horrible and cheap. it consists of 63 luxury apartments.
www.cassidygroup.com

[rottersclub]

Cassidy are doing a development in earlsdon called warwick court, its 3 storeys and looks horrible and cheap. it consists of 63 luxury apartments.
www.cassidygroup.com (http://www.cassidygroup.com)

Yes, and the local "pressure" group are responsible for it - they hassled the developers so much they made them change it.

Originally, it was bigger and with a shopping mall.

Just gone a bit mad on iccoventry... What a bunch of dicks on there.

[rottersclub]

yea but whats actually going there? im sure i read somewhere it was going to be a creative arts and crafts/innovative business area.

iv just started a thread on iccoventry about getting west orchards knocked down, and so far the people who have replied have been so pesimistic. i just dont understand why people in coventry are so backwards and refuse to move forward.

What they need to do is get a fleet of bulldozers at the top of the precinct, and don't stop until they reach the ringroad.

[Jags]

Yes, and the local "pressure" group are responsible for it - they hassled the developers so much they made them change it.

Originally, it was bigger and with a shopping mall.

Just gone a bit mad on iccoventry... What a bunch of dicks on there.

i know tell me bout it, so bloody backwards, they need to open their damn eyes.

[Jags]

What they need to do is get a fleet of bulldozers at the top of the precinct, and don't stop until they reach the ringroad.

lol, and then some.

Just read that the 16 storey development next to the tax office is now called 'The Friars'

[rottersclub]

lol, and then some.

Just read that the 16 storey development next to the tax office is now called 'The Friars'

I forgot about that one - I notice the old hotels along that road have been boarded up. I wonder if this one'll go ahead of get sold like all the others!

[Jags]

I forgot about that one - I notice the old hotels along that road have been boarded up. I wonder if this one'll go ahead of get sold like all the others!

well its being done by Parkridge homes, i tried to find it on thier website but its not on there, the architects are Robothams ( www.robothams.co.uk ).
Ihope they change the architecture because it jus looks so crap, so typical city centre block of flats, that is the best place to put something iconic and would fit nicely with the station area. i think the reason that Park Court was sold was so that it could be linked to the station, i reckon the designs will change as a result to make it fit together better, Cannon Kirk have bought most of the station area, but i hope they actually do something with the station itself even though its listed.

[Jags]

And Ericsson - formerly the equipment part of Marconi - may be moving to Loughborough (Including the Software team I used to work in!)

i think they are still considering Ansty aswell, there has been alot of interest in the site recently so i think its only a matter of time before we hear something

[rottersclub]

i think they are still considering Ansty aswell, there has been alot of interest in the site recently so i think its only a matter of time before we hear something

Cov City council should be licking Swedish Arse to keep Ericsson in the city. Deep rimming. It's a high-tech firm, and just the sort of thing the area needs if it wants to keep building this mysterious "technology triangle".

[rottersclub]

well its being done by Parkridge homes, i tried to find it on thier website but its not on there, the architects are Robothams ( www.robothams.co.uk (http://www.robothams.co.uk) ).
Ihope they change the architecture because it jus looks so crap, so typical city centre block of flats, that is the best place to put something iconic and would fit nicely with the station area. i think the reason that Park Court was sold was so that it could be linked to the station, i reckon the designs will change as a result to make it fit together better, Cannon Kirk have bought most of the station area, but i hope they actually do something with the station itself even though its listed.

I don't hate it, but I'm not overly enthusiastic about it. It certainly lacks something.

In the old Coventry Development Plan, they were planning to build more platforms, except on the other side of the road. where the car park is next to central six.

Actually, Central Six is a monstrosity. It'd be great if they flattened that and built it up a bit more.

[Jags]

platrorms?
yea central six should be more dense. perfect place to build a quality shopping centre.

[Jags]

how do i upload pictures on here?

[rottersclub]

how do i upload pictures on here?

You need to use Insert Image and enter the URL for the image you want to show. It's the icon with the two mountains...

[rottersclub]

platrorms?
yea central six should be more dense. perfect place to build a quality shopping centre.

Yes, more platforms for the station... I believe they were going to use them for local trains.

There seems to be something going on with trains in Coventry and Warwickshire... And the Sprint scheme... The BRT system, but that's not going to be running for almost 10 years... Incredible. This country is absolutely useless. How on Earth DID we get an empire? It now takes 10 years to get a bloody bus running!

[Jags]

You need to use Insert Image and enter the URL for the image you want to show. It's the icon with the two mountains...

what if i have them on my hard drive?

[Jags]

Yes, more platforms for the station... I believe they were going to use them for local trains.

There seems to be something going on with trains in Coventry and Warwickshire... And the Sprint scheme... The BRT system, but that's not going to be running for almost 10 years... Incredible. This country is absolutely useless. How on Earth DID we get an empire? It now takes 10 years to get a bloody bus running!

i doubt there will be any new platforms as theres no room to expand into. the spint system was hyped up for a year so the coucil looked as if they were doing some infrastructure work then it just fizzled out.

[rottersclub]

i doubt there will be any new platforms as theres no room to expand into. the spint system was hyped up for a year so the coucil looked as if they were doing some infrastructure work then it just fizzled out.

The new platforms were going to be the other side of the main road - so not actually in the station.

SPRINT has got government funding and is going ahead - except it's not going to go to Kenilworth as people there don't want it. Instead, they want to look at it going to Leamington and Warwick and bypassing Kenilworth.

[rottersclub]

what if i have them on my hard drive?

Get an account on fotopic (Or something) and upload the images onto it... That's what I've done in the past.

[Jags]

i thought it was abour time to put some pictures on here.

The phoenix initiative(complete)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ff9.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffk.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffm.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffn.jpg

Included in this is the newly opened fire station(which is really nice inside)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7fft.jpg

[Jags]

Belgrade Plaza (under construction)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffp.jpg

Bigger picture

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffo.jpg

Millenium view (pre-planning) preferred developer chosen

day

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffu.jpg

night

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffv.jpg

[Jags]

Park Court(planning granted but sold to Cannon Kirk to link with Terry Farrel designed station masterplan) 19 storeys.

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ff0.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5f.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f57.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5e.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f59.jpg

[Jags]

Ikea(under construction)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffq.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5b.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5a.jpg

theres three different designs but im not sure which ones being built

[Jags]

Herbert Art Gallery(under construction)

I love the huge wavy glass design for the enterance.

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffe.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffr.jpg

[Jags]

Swanswell Masterplan (Under construction upto 10 years to complete)

When this development is finished it will transform 180acres to the north of the city centre and could lead to the lowering of the ring road, hopefully.
http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffi.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffz.jpg

new city college building is part of the swanswell initiative.

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f55.jpg

new sity square outside the college building

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f58.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5g.jpg

Part of the Masterplan is the award winning Electric Wharf

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffj.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffw.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5s.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5c.jpg

[Jags]

New office building at the end of the burges (planning granted)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ff4.jpg

The Friars(Planning Granted-16 storey)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ff4.jpg

New Peugeot Head office and Training center(Under construction on former Peugeot factory)

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5y.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f51.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f52.jpg

New Stoke Aldermoore masterplan (planning granted and i believe it is under construction)
Will include a new school, distrcit center and i think about 1000 homes.

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7f5d.jpg

Godiva Place (pre planning-12 storeys in the Swanswell Initiative)
http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffd.jpg

Random Pictures.
Found this picture of what the new cathedral could have looked like.

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffg.jpg

the ruins of the cathedral

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffl.jpg

Phoenix Initiative

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ff6.jpg

[Jags]

sorry The Friars is this one

http://images.fotopic.net/yl7ffh.jpg

[rottersclub]

Mmm, it seems that fotopic has barred skyscrapercity!

[Jags]

dont they work? i can see them.

[rottersclub]

dont they work? i can see them.

I get "BARRED - This site has been banned from fotopic."

http://martinnike.fotopic.net/p27548092.html

http://martinnike.fotopic.net/p27486670.html

[Jags]

oh crap i spent ages doing that, which one works then, i can see all the pictures on my comp but ill post them again if you know of another site that i can use.

[Jags]

i was listening to bbc cov and warwick yesterday while i was in the car and they did a feature on the retail aspect of the city centre and how bad it really is, they had a councilor on there who said that they know the retail offering is not upto scratch and will be looking at developments in the coming year and maybe even a new shopping centre. hopefully this isnt just to shut us up and something will happen very quickly. maybe the little campaign on iccoventry is working.lol lol

[inspired]

Jags hpe you can sort out the pics, as it would be good to look at whats going on.

[inspired]

i was listening to bbc cov and warwick yesterday while i was in the car and they did a feature on the retail aspect of the city centre and how bad it really is, they had a councilor on there who said that they know the retail offering is not upto scratch and will be looking at developments in the coming year and maybe even a new shopping centre. hopefully this isnt just to shut us up and something will happen very quickly. maybe the little campaign on iccoventry is working.lol lol

Ive been reading your campaign on iccoventry, hopefully it gets picked up by the moderator/editor and an article gets written to highlight it , putting pressure on those who govern - Coventry city council

[rottersclub]

i was listening to bbc cov and warwick yesterday while i was in the car and they did a feature on the retail aspect of the city centre and how bad it really is, they had a councilor on there who said that they know the retail offering is not upto scratch and will be looking at developments in the coming year and maybe even a new shopping centre. hopefully this isnt just to shut us up and something will happen very quickly. maybe the little campaign on iccoventry is working.lol lol

They did moot the following ideas:

1) Demolish the huge park behind the precinct (Barracks?) and build a shopping mall there - that's actually a large piece of land, and the car park is in a very poor state of repair.
2) Demolish the co-op department store/allied carpets and all those horrible little shops along Smithford way and along corporation street and build a large mall there. (This was going to include the retention of the frontage of the co-op due to its interesting, period design.)

Something has got to be done - it's getting worse almost yearly, and there are empty units in prime spots that have been like this for almost two years. Things looked up when they did the lower precinct, but I don't think it's really worked. It's an important part of the city's economy and it's equivalent at the moment to that of a small town. (Despite Cov's spending power to be higher than Warwickshires)

The big problem is encouraging the folk from the wealthier suburbs and Warwickshire to come in - the improved train links may help, as would Sprint, but I have my doubts it's possible unless they can attract some real top class retailers... Which I don't think they can.

[Jags]

Jags hpe you can sort out the pics, as it would be good to look at whats going on.

yea i will try to, do you know of any other way i can upload the pictures?

[Jags]

Ive been reading your campaign on iccoventry, hopefully it gets picked up by the moderator/editor and an article gets written to highlight it , putting pressure on those who govern - Coventry city council

thats the general idea, but i think coventry telegraph wont report on it. As someone on iccoventry said they dont want to upset the council. its stupid really because you would think its a paper that is written for coventry's local residents to voice their opinions etc...

[Jags]

They did moot the following ideas:

1) Demolish the huge park behind the precinct (Barracks?) and build a shopping mall there - that's actually a large piece of land, and the car park is in a very poor state of repair.
2) Demolish the co-op department store/allied carpets and all those horrible little shops along Smithford way and along corporation street and build a large mall there. (This was going to include the retention of the frontage of the co-op due to its interesting, period design.)

Something has got to be done - it's getting worse almost yearly, and there are empty units in prime spots that have been like this for almost two years. Things looked up when they did the lower precinct, but I don't think it's really worked. It's an important part of the city's economy and it's equivalent at the moment to that of a small town. (Despite Cov's spending power to be higher than Warwickshires)

The big problem is encouraging the folk from the wealthier suburbs and Warwickshire to come in - the improved train links may help, as would Sprint, but I have my doubts it's possible unless they can attract some real top class retailers... Which I don't think they can.

the allied carpets area would be perfect because it could be fantastically linked with belgrade theater and plaza aswell as ikea and the lower precinct, the whole of corporation street would be completely different and would make a fantastic enterance into the city centre. this would also mean that the plaza would be less isolated and would have a natural flow into the shopping area or vice versa.

[gothicform]

what wont the coventry telegraph report on? im interested now :)

[Jags]

what wont the coventry telegraph report on? im interested now :)

my little campaign to get the shopping provision in coventry sorted out. They dont want to upset the council, which i think is ridiculous. how are the general public supposed to voice their opinions without the local papers.

[rottersclub]

my little campaign to get the shopping provision in coventry sorted out. They dont want to upset the council, which i think is ridiculous. how are the general public supposed to voice their opinions without the local papers.

I think the council are already aware of the shortcomings - improved shopping provision was part of the 10 years CDP which was published about six years ago.

[sleslie48]

Whats the point of the media if it's scared to upset people! Surely it's usually the reverse! At least it should be. Rubbish! Should start a revolution!

[Jags]

Whats the point of the media if it's scared to upset people! Surely it's usually the reverse! At least it should be. Rubbish! Should start a revolution!

i know tell me about it, if the media wont help then who will?

[gothicform]

what campaign? whats the what. i find that the things i write tend to appear in the media the following week :)

[inspired]

went to the new restaurant at the old fire-station. Friendly staff, but would have liked to have seen more of the internal building in the redesign, although im happy that this building is now in use. :cheers:

[rottersclub]

went to the new restaurant at the old fire-station. Friendly staff, but would have liked to have seen more of the internal building in the redesign, although im happy that this building is now in use. :cheers:

It's smart isn't it? I went there with work and we were very impressed. I just wish they'd finish the development up - it still needs more "mass" to make it busy. At the moment the area's a bit windswept.

[Dr Pepper]

Hopefully Priory Place, the old fire station and a completed Millennum View should have the critical mass to pull people to that part of town. Does anyone know how many bars Millennium View will have? And will the development next to Axa have any bars? These two combined with Belgrade Plaza could create a bit of foot traffic.

Also, lay off the Precinct. It's not its fault they put in the escalator, ramp with jewellers under it and filled it with card shops and low quality brick paterned paving. Filling in the gap from Broadgate to Hertford St with Nationwide was a stupid decision. To say the least.

[Jags]

Hopefully Priory Place, the old fire station and a completed Millennum View should have the critical mass to pull people to that part of town. Does anyone know how many bars Millennium View will have? And will the development next to Axa have any bars? These two combined with Belgrade Plaza could create a bit of foot traffic.

Also, lay off the Precinct. It's not its fault they put in the escalator, ramp with jewellers under it and filled it with card shops and low quality brick paterned paving. Filling in the gap from Broadgate to Hertford St with Nationwide was a stupid decision. To say the least.

the leisure aspect of the city is really coming along quickly but the problem is, is the shopping provision, untill this is sorted no one will want to open up offices in the city centre its just not good enough.

i went to the old fire station a week or two ago, its nice but i think they should have kept some character of the old building inside, but other than that its very nice.

[hello123]

Just thought i might know a couple of things you might be interested in. I work at Coventry University and i know that yes the Site opposite the Old Odeon is being considered as a place for a University Structure but this may not be for the Students Union, They are currently looking at building structures for 1. Students Union, 2. The faculty of Engineering and computing, and 3. a Multi-storey car park. So the site could be used to house the Faculty of Engineering and computing.
Also Coventry University is Building a building next to the new entrance to the Hertbert Art Gallery thats being constructed.

[jef]

I lived in Coventry in the nineties. The city has changed a lot.
Thanks for all the news.

[Jags]

Just thought i might know a couple of things you might be interested in. I work at Coventry University and i know that yes the Site opposite the Old Odeon is being considered as a place for a University Structure but this may not be for the Students Union, They are currently looking at building structures for 1. Students Union, 2. The faculty of Engineering and computing, and 3. a Multi-storey car park. So the site could be used to house the Faculty of Engineering and computing.
Also Coventry University is Building a building next to the new entrance to the Hertbert Art Gallery thats being constructed.

cheers for the news, what does the one next to the herbert look like?

[Jags]

I lived in Coventry in the nineties. The city has changed a lot.
Thanks for all the news.

yea it has changed alot but just not quickly enough.

[inspired]

jags...just bought the CET....have seen your campaign in print about local shopping in the city centre :lol:

[Jags]

jags...just bought the CET....have seen your campaign in print about local shopping in the city centre :lol:

really what did it say? i cant get a copy of it because im in london for the next month.

[inspired]

really what did it say? i cant get a copy of it because im in london for the next month.

it was one and a-half pages with most of the posts from the forum. Your name appaers quite a few times with your posts.

You can have a look at it at the central library as they keep copies.

[Jags]

it was one and a-half pages with most of the posts from the forum. Your name appaers quite a few times with your posts.

You can have a look at it at the central library as they keep copies.

did the paper make any comments on it?

[3SPIRES]

I've made a new thread about the new nuneaton borough stadium (5,850) and i thought you guys would want a look at the plans too, so here they are...

http://myspace-118.vo.llnwd.net/01550/81/17/1550897118_l.jpg
http://myspace-878.vo.llnwd.net/01550/87/87/1550897878_l.jpg

[sleslie48]

Wow thats awsome that they printed the comments, I havent seen it but its good news. Nice to know that you can actually make a difference, well maybe, or at least you can have some kind of a voice. Right what else needs sorting out in coventry......

[sleslie48]

It's very quiet on here at the moment!

Here's a question, what does everyone think of the pedestrianisation of the city centre?

I walked down the full length of smithford way yesterday at about 9pm on my way back from the station. It was soo boring! I saw one other person! I was looking at it and it's like a road used to be there and then got paved over. Originaly it was going to have a road, then a different planner took over and persuaded everyone it should be pedestrian.

I couldn't help thinking yesterday that it would have had more life if there was a road there. It's wide enough to have one lane of traffic and then on street praking, which may inject so new life into the precinct. (I also thought it needs some hotels and restraunts/bars but thats another issue)

I was talking to a transport councilor about 6 months ago and he said that they aim to make practically the whole city centre traffic free, and he mumbled something about the high street and broadgate. I think this would be terrible, if anything they need to put more traffic back! It makes things intresting!

Thoughts...

[rottersclub]

It's very quiet on here at the moment!

Here's a question, what does everyone think of the pedestrianisation of the city centre?

I walked down the full length of smithford way yesterday at about 9pm on my way back from the station. It was soo boring! I saw one other person! I was looking at it and it's like a road used to be there and then got paved over. Originaly it was going to have a road, then a different planner took over and persuaded everyone it should be pedestrian.

I couldn't help thinking yesterday that it would have had more life if there was a road there. It's wide enough to have one lane of traffic and then on street praking, which may inject so new life into the precinct. (I also thought it needs some hotels and restraunts/bars but thats another issue)

I was talking to a transport councilor about 6 months ago and he said that they aim to make practically the whole city centre traffic free, and he mumbled something about the high street and broadgate. I think this would be terrible, if anything they need to put more traffic back! It makes things intresting!

Thoughts...

Pedestrianisation is OK if done in moderation. A few streets, but in Coventry they've made the city centre virtually unusable to cars and inaccessible to pedestrians. If they make the whole city centre traffic free, it'll be even deader than it already is.

Traffic, whether it's pedestrian or car, is what makes a city live and breath. Without it, you just end up with dismal ghettoes of shops. The council don't have a clue what they're doing.

[Dr Pepper]

Its a good thing cars are restricted in the city centre as they create noise, fumes and use up it's limited amount of land. There are many different ways the centre can be livened up a bit, afterall plenty of other citys manage to it by a mixture of fountains/floral displays/art/street furniture/shop fronts etc.

[3SPIRES]

I've got an idea to liven up the new cathedral. It's great inside but the exterior is horrible....

http://www.coventry.org.uk/heritage2/places/cathedral/graphics/cath1.jpg

I think it needs a reclad. Maybe like this....

http://files.myopera.com/longing2belong/albums/37850/thumbs/DSCN0318%20copy.jpg_thumb.jpg

and trams would be good.

[cardiff]

rebuild the origional city please, like dresden is doing! and remove the deadly ringraod - what a nightmare - although leave the cathedral as it does show the citys past in an ecellent way

[3SPIRES]

^^ Good call! More of this...

http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/tour/sponst02.jpg


Let's rebuild the original Cathedral (St Mary's) while we're at it.

http://home.freeuk.net/webbuk2/coventry/time-team-plan.jpg

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/images/cov_3dt.jpg

Then we'd have 3 Cathedrals and i'd have to change my name to 6SPIRES.

http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/cathedrals/all3cathedrals.gif

[rottersclub]

rebuild the origional city please, like dresden is doing! and remove the deadly ringraod - what a nightmare - although leave the cathedral as it does show the citys past in an ecellent way

You can't rebuilt the "original City" (I assume you mean Pre-war city) as most of it was timber framed medieval buildings and mixed up with factories and streets of Edwardian terraces. All this was arranged around narrow streets and "yards".

It's gone. Not much of it is left, and it's no use wishing for it back. In fact, before the blitz the population of Coventry had grown so much (From 40K to 250K) that the tiny medieval centre was becoming a hindrance - so it was already being demolished.

[3SPIRES]

^^ Surely if its timber framed buildings that makes it easier to rebuild. I found a really good website about Coventry's Trams http://www.kcrawley.free-online.co.uk/trams/contents.htm it's got some interesting pictures and facts and even shows where some tramcars are now - Why don't the transport museum buy them?

Q. Why is this thread not in WM?

[rottersclub]

^^ Surely if its timber framed buildings that makes it easier to rebuild. I found a really good website about Coventry's Trams http://www.kcrawley.free-online.co.uk/trams/contents.htm it's got some interesting pictures and facts and even shows where some tramcars are now - Why don't the transport museum buy them?


I've seen that website before. Interesting how old relics stick around.

You can't "rebuild" a city in the style of a "medieval" city. That "quaint" tumbledown look is due to the structure settling and buckling over time. They weren't built that way.

Coventry experienced an economic stagnation between the end of the medieval period and the tail end of the industrial revolution, hence it saw little development and the city was basically still enclosed by much of its walls with the old gates in place. The old courts - formerly homes of traders, butchers and tradesmen - were slum houses. A lot of it had been patched up over the years by being bricked up (Hence the bricked up medieval structures on the Burges).

During the industrial revolution new housing was built outside the common land that surrounded the city walls - hence the watchmakers village in Earlsdon and Chapelfields, and the Weaving suburb of Hillfields. Laws prohibited building on the common land - due to its being important for defence - and this prevented Coventry's expansion during the industrial revolution apart from cottage industries of weaving and watchmaking. The watchmaking lead to the city becoming a centre for engineering.

When these laws were reformed, the land was build on (Places like Earlsdon were joined to the main city) and factories were build in the centre of the city - where Cov Uni is was Triumph, and Little Park street was lined with factories. Later, in the run up to the war, the factories were built further out

You simply couldn't recreate what was the product of 900 years of urban growth. It was random and messy, and very much a product of the economic cycles the city had been through - grand Cathedrals/Churches/Abbeys/Spires/religious buildings reflecting its religious importance from the 11th century onwards, large medieval houses and fine guild halls for the tradesmen. Very little Georgian development, reflecting the economic stagnation perhaps, and no stunning Victorian structures akin to those in other cities, but some Victorian character in the watchmaking districts and the top-shops of hillfields. A lot of the city's areas were developed heavily during the early 20th century, and this is evident in the expanses of red brick terraced houses. Occasionally, you get a weaver's cottage or top shop in amongst them. You can tell by the style when they were built.

Of course, a lot of this has gone, but you can still see remains of most of it - the original Cathedral has been built on, the Guild Hall of Saint Mary's is still there. The old County Court building is still there, reflecting the time when the city was in fact a county in its own right - and there are even hints of the old Castle. Of course, much of it now is dominated by ringroads, 20th century buildings and the like, but the street plan is still basically medieval.

It's not in the Birmingham forum because Coventry is its own city and from what I remember, every thread in that forum ended up being hijacked and turned into some dumb argument about city regions.

[sleslie48]

I think areas of the city could be rebuilt. It is the way that cities grow and develop over time that give them their identity. Coventry has lost a lot of it's original identity, and has got a new one, which isn't great lets face it. I don't for one second believe that you should rebuild everything. Some things disappear for a reason. However, some of the schemes that were put in place post war were completely wrong and I think looking back at the past with one eye on the future will help to regenerate some areas.

Take cross cheaping to the top of bishop street for example. It used to be lined with old buildings. I believe it would be possible to build in the old style and it would be appropriate. The street used to run from broadgate up to where the residential tower block after the canal basin is. There are no streets in Cov like this now, no long streets lined with a mixture of shops, buisnesses, hotels etc, and there needs to be. Primark, some terrible buildings near the sorting office (itself included) and the ring road (the main culpret) have killed this street.

but the street plan is still basically medieval.

Have you not seen a map of coventry! It's been dessimated! It could only be less medieval if we brought back the modernist town planners to get their unconditional way.

[rottersclub]

I think areas of the city could be rebuilt. It is the way that cities grow and develop over time that give them their identity. Coventry has lost a lot of it's original identity, and has got a new one, which isn't great lets face it. I don't for one second believe that you should rebuild everything. Some things disappear for a reason. However, some of the schemes that were put in place post war were completely wrong and I think looking back at the past with one eye on the future will help to regenerate some areas.

Take cross cheaping to the top of bishop street for example. It used to be lined with old buildings. I believe it would be possible to build in the old style and it would be appropriate. The street used to run from broadgate up to where the residential tower block after the canal basin is. There are no streets in Cov like this now, no long streets lined with a mixture of shops, buisnesses, hotels etc, and there needs to be. Primark, some terrible buildings near the sorting office (itself included) and the ring road (the main culpret) have killed this street.



Have you not seen a map of coventry! It's been dessimated! It could only be less medieval if we brought back the modernist town planners to get their unconditional way.

There are no continuous streets in Coventry because of the ringroad and the way the city centre was zoned.

The original plan for Coventry would have seen the pre-war streetplan absolutely ruined. What they went in didn't destroy much of the streetplan, apart from the area where the precinct is (And even that follows the line of the city's old shopping street) Little Park Street and Much Park street are both medieval streets.

It's not going to come back, and they're not going to rebuild in an old style. The character of Coventry is now mainly 20th century. The old stuff is small scale and dotted around. Most of the new developments in the city centre appear to be 6+ storeys.

The plan for the Burges (From Cross Cheaping to Bishop Street) was, some years ago, to strip back the buildings to their medieval structures and build some development behind it around Palmer lane. That seems to be dead now. Most of that small stretch of the street is pre-war. Before Trinity Street and Owen Owen were built, the area was famously the site of "Butcher's Row", which looked like the Shambles in York.

[Dr Pepper]

I do wonder if land where Palmer Lane is behine the Burges will now be developed considering there has been alot of rebuilding in that area. I wonder who owns the land there.

There are still quite a few of the historical top shop houses dotted around the city, though not all in good repair. I have often wondered if they could be preserved through purchase and rental by a charity. It could work like this: A charity buys two or three of the houses, renovates them by restoring or replacing original features and decor, like fireplaces and sash windows, and then rents them out. A nice smart, feature laden house to live in. The rent provides an income for the charity and the rise in value of the property allows them to be remorgaged and other such properties to be given the same treatment and thus create a virtuous circle. This could even be extended to restore some of the pubs, (an income generating business), used by the watch makers and weavers - perhaps selling real ale etc.

Of course a large initial sum of money would be needed as well as good management skill but I can't believe something like this can't be done.

[rottersclub]

I do wonder if land where Palmer Lane is behine the Burges will now be developed considering there has been alot of rebuilding in that area. I wonder who owns the land there.

There are still quite a few of the historical top shop houses dotted around the city, though not all in good repair. I have often wondered if they could be preserved through purchase and rental by a charity. It could work like this: A charity buys two or three of the houses, renovates them by restoring or replacing original features and decor, like fireplaces and sash windows, and then rents them out. A nice smart, feature laden house to live in. The rent provides an income for the charity and the rise in value of the property allows them to be remorgaged and other such properties to be given the same treatment and thus create a virtuous circle. This could even be extended to restore some of the pubs, (an income generating business), used by the watch makers and weavers - perhaps selling real ale etc.

Of course a large initial sum of money would be needed as well as good management skill but I can't believe something like this can't be done.

The only weaver's topshops I've seen is the block on Far Gosford Street, which may get done up if Far Gosford Street ever becomes decent. Although I remember the last time they did it up. It didn't take long for it to fall apart again. There used to be some in Hillfields, but I think they were demolished a few years back. There are others dotted around in parts of Stoke - when I moved to Coventry we rented a house that may have been a topshop.

I've read in the CET that they are planning to build on the land where Max Buch is - I assume this means that odd little chunk of buildings will be demolished (Housing).

The watchmaker's area in Chapelfields is a desirable area and is almost just as it was when the watchmakers were there. The old watch factory on Allesly Old Road is going to be restored - well, rebuilt in the same style. If you go round the backstreets of Earlsdon there's a block of watchmaker's houses. Sadly, the weaving was mainly in Stoke/Hillfields, both areas that aren't particularly desirable so they were left to decay.

A row of watchmaker's houses in Spon End was demolished a few years back. The land has been turned into a horrible looking concrete park.

Palmer lane was "phoenix 2" - which seems to have stagnated. It's an interesting little area, which could be part of an interesting development. Not in Coventry, though.

[Jags]

im not surprised coventry didnt get a small or large casino, in fact i dont think they even applied for them, this council are so bloody stupid its unbelievable!

[rottersclub]

im not surprised coventry didnt get a small or large casino, in fact i dont think they even applied for them, this council are so bloody stupid its unbelievable!

The casino at the Arena already has a license - they obtained it last year.

[Jags]

The casino at the Arena already has a license - they obtained it last year.

but its only a very small one though, so wont have the same regenerative effect.

[Jags]

Found this bit of news which could potentially be very good for ansty considering the names in the hat.

A new multi-million pound centre in Coventry is set to assist regional enterprises that specialise in services and technologies to help those with long-term illnesses and disabilities.

Coventry University has received the go-ahead for the £4.5 million Health Design and Technology Institute (HDTI), due to open in 2008.

The running of the institute will also be funded by a £3.6 million grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, to be followed by a further £10 million over the next ten years.

Construction work on the building, which will be funded by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, is due to begin on the site in the next four months.

The institute's aim is to help SMEs design products and services to improve community healthcare and manage health at home, aided by the latest diagnostic tools, monitoring devices and technology.

It has also launched nine courses aimed at equipping students, SMEs, community-based health and social care professionals, carers and consumers with the skills to design better products and services for the healthcare sector.


The institute – which will be managed by the university's commercial arm, Coventry University Enterprises – has also teamed up with a number of big names in the healthcare industry, including Procter & Gamble, GE Healthcare, Age Concern Enterprises, Lloyds Pharmacy, Medilink West Midlands and MidTECH NHS Innovations.


HDTI director Simon Fielden said the Institute was special to the West Midlands and would support the Department of Health’s objective to transfer care from hospital to the home.


He said: "Our focus is on developing assistive technologies for the patient, rather than medical devices for surgical intervention or use in hospital settings, which sets us apart from existing initiatives in the region.


"Our areas of activity will include building and vehicle adaptations, walking aids and wheelchairs, consumer health products, and eHealth developments such as remote monitoring.


"This approach is very much aligned to the University’s traditional strengths in nursing, the allied health professions and product design."


The new three-story building will include pre-incubator space for SMEs, a demonstration area where companies and users can trial their products and services and offices for applied research.


Mr Fielden said that, although there were a number of good companies operating in this sector of healthcare in the West Midlands, the region had not fully exploited its potential.


He said: "We certainly have experts in the service provision side of things – such as the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre in Selly Oak – but we perhaps have not got the business base that we could have."


The European medical device sector is worth £55.2 billion but the UK has so far failed to capitalise on the economic potential.


Mr Fielden added: "The HDTI represents a tremendous opportunity for partnership with business enterprises, health and social services and, most importantly, patients. It is an opportunity for those already in the industry to expand their product base and for other enterprises to diversify into it.


"This will create jobs in the region and provide improved products and services to the end user. "We hope to make life better for people coping with long-term conditions in their own home and increase the independence of disabled and older people."

[Jags]

this is the article relating to british waterways selling off strategic canal sites for development. Again this has great potental to be linked with millenium place and the new office development on corporation street.

British Waterways to siphon off canal sites

Public body to release 80 sites for mixed-use development


26.01.2007

By Anna Hodgekiss

British Waterways is to release more than 80 sites around its canals for development throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

The sale is part of a wider asset management programme whereby the day-to-day running of around one-third of the organisation’s £530m property portfolio will be contracted out, including 70 investment assets.

British Waterways has invited consultants to pitch to take over part of its portfolio so that its in-house property team can focus on the wider development strategy.

It has posted a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union and pre-qualification questionnaires were submitted by interested parties on Wednesday. An adviser will be appointed by April.

The proposal is designed to generate income and enable the organisation, which runs Britain’s 2,200-mile canal network, to become more cost-efficient.

This follows last year’s £7m funding cut from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, which led to 180 job losses.

British Waterways has identified around 80 sites that will be part of a rolling programme of development over the next two to 10 years.

Most are let on a short-term basis and house boatyards and warehouses.

It is understood that the developments will be mixed use and that many of the sites are in built-up areas in London Birmingham and Coventry.

While British Waterways will undertake some of the development itself, most of the sites will be developed in partnerships, similar to its joint venture with Miller Properties at Edinburgh Quay.

Other sites will be developed through Isis, a joint venture between British Waterways, Amec Developments and Morley Fund Management’s Igloo Fund.

Stuart Mills, head of property at British Waterways, said: ‘We want to generate income and visitors, which can be achieved through sustainable, mixed-use development along the waterways and affordable housing.

‘We want to develop these sites not just for commercial value but, more importantly, to regenerate communities as well.’

British Waterways is anxious to use the income generated from its investment portfolio to offset its operating costs and fund maintenance on existing waterways.

[Jags]

Martin i managed to finf bblb architects website and it contains great renders of Park Court, im not sure if theyre new or old but look quite striking if they use that design.
These guys are also masterplanning the Peugeot site, i saw the plan a while back but these pics are in great detail and the plan looks fantastic.

http://www.bblb-architects.co.uk

go to the masterplanning area and both developments are on there.

i had a look at MCD's website and they are registering interst on the Butts development but have no pics as of yet, but i did look at the Echo website and from what i could see the development is very big and worth £50 million

http://www.mcdproperty.com

[Jags]

City to get up to 44,000 new homesJan 31 2007




By Samantha Clarke


TENS of thousands of new homes could be built in Coventry over the next two decades to cope with a predicted increase in housing demand, a public meeting was told.

Between 19,000 and 44,000 could be built as part of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy, a consultation document mapping out the development of the region until 2026.

The document has been drawn up by the West Midlands Regional Assembly, a planning body made up of representatives from local authorities across the region.

One of the issues looked at in the document is housing.

Residents and groups are asked whether they think the West Midlands should receive an extra 381,000, 491,200 or 575,000 homes before 2026.


As part of this, Coventry could receive an extra 19,000, 24,400 or 44,000 new homes.


The first option is in line with today's level of growth.


The third meets government targets and the second is how many homes the city council thinks Coventry can accommodate.


The figures are not yet finalised and may be revised at the end of the first period of consultation. Houses built since 2001 are already included.


At a meeting at the Coventry Transport Museum on Monday night, scores of residents and group representatives were told the city could only provide another 24,000 new homes without building on green belt land.
The document also looked at creating more office space in the region.

For Coventry, it could mean another 260,000 to 290,000 square metres of office floor space, including up to 160,000 square metres in the city centre.

In line with the document, the city council is also looking to increase Coventry's population from 304,200 to 365,000, creating up to 66,000 new jobs.

Lesley Wroe, planning officer for the city council, said: "The aim of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy is to try to influence growth.

"And the WMRSS consultation in Coventry aims to look at how the city fits in the with both the regional and national agenda.

"Other areas considered in the consultation, which continues until March 5, include economic, social, employment, transport and waste issues."

Sara Roach, development manager at Coventry Partnership, said: "This is an opportunity for us as a city to try to influence how we will look in the next 20 years and how we will fit in, in the West Midlands."

This sounds like good news but i think the brown belt land in the city can still accomodate for more homes than this if it is regenerated properly.

[rottersclub]

Martin i managed to finf bblb architects website and it contains great renders of Park Court, im not sure if theyre new or old but look quite striking if they use that design.
These guys are also masterplanning the Peugeot site, i saw the plan a while back but these pics are in great detail and the plan looks fantastic.

http://www.bblb-architects.co.uk

go to the masterplanning area and both developments are on there.

i had a look at MCD's website and they are registering interst on the Butts development but have no pics as of yet, but i did look at the Echo website and from what i could see the development is very big and worth £50 million

http://www.mcdproperty.com

I think that's a very old Park Court rendering. The actual design was done by another firm.

Isn't it being redesigned now?

[inspired]

Martin i managed to finf bblb architects website and it contains great renders of Park Court, im not sure if theyre new or old but look quite striking if they use that design.
These guys are also masterplanning the Peugeot site, i saw the plan a while back but these pics are in great detail and the plan looks fantastic.

http://www.bblb-architects.co.uk

go to the masterplanning area and both developments are on there.

i had a look at MCD's website and they are registering interst on the Butts development but have no pics as of yet, but i did look at the Echo website and from what i could see the development is very big and worth £50 million

http://www.mcdproperty.com


woow jags, thanks for the recent burst of info. All seems quite at the mo on the big projects - station sq, swanswell and the belgrade plaza

[Jags]

I think that's a very old Park Court rendering. The actual design was done by another firm.

Isn't it being redesigned now?

i dont know, i was just guessing, i was on the cov development portal today and the application has been approved for a few months, im not too sure they would change it now, it looked ok as it was, i really like the tower though the render i have of it looks great.

[Jags]

woow jags, thanks for the recent burst of info. All seems quite at the mo on the big projects - station sq, swanswell and the belgrade plaza

yea hopefully its just the quite before the storm, Friarsgate designs should be ready in Feb some time. Park court has been delayed because it was bought by cannon kirk who are doing Friarsgate and belgrade are hopefully preparing for the next phase(if its not being sold)

[rottersclub]

i dont know, i was just guessing, i was on the cov development portal today and the application has been approved for a few months, im not too sure they would change it now, it looked ok as it was, i really like the tower though the render i have of it looks great.

The Victoria Building flats were given permission and then redesigned.

I hope they're going to make Park Court TALLER!

[rottersclub]

woow jags, thanks for the recent burst of info. All seems quite at the mo on the big projects - station sq, swanswell and the belgrade plaza

Yes, very quiet indeed - we've had lots of talk and grand plans, but what's happening with Swanswell? All gone dead.

[Jags]

i think the council are waiting for complex development projects to finish electric wharf to start the foleshill road site, i think they have been given prefered developer status on the site. im guessing, otherwise the council would have sold it off a long time ago, its a huge site.

[inspired]

just found this update on the web on the swanswell initiative meeting that happened on the 25th of Jan. Looks like some things are happening but very slowly.


*******************************************************
City College Phase 1 – Work is still on schedule and set to open in September this year. The coverings and scaffolding are now coming down to reveal the building.


City College Phase 2 – The second site visit to the college and viewing of the plans for Phase 2 is due to take place on Thursday 25 January 2007. Preliminary works for Phase 2 will begin as soon as the city council has possession of Cygnet and Orwell Court towards the end of January.


City College Multi Storey Car Park – I will continue to advise when the design for the proposed development moves forward.


Health Centre – Peter Hodder, Director of the Primary Care Teaching Trust, or a colleague will be at the Swanswell Initiative Community Liaison Group meeting on Thursday 25th January 2007 to discuss future healthcare in the area.


Academy - The city council have now submitted a report to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) regarding the proposal for a new school to replace Sidney Stringer which would be sponsored by Coventry City Council, City College, Coventry University and Jaguar and we await their response.


AXA Equity & Law site (Corporation Street) – Planning consent has now been granted for an office development with a small number of apartments and shops.


Bishop Street Post Sorting Office – Senior council officers have met with the Post Office who have advised of their intention to relocate the sorting office to Northampton. The city council is currently in negotiation regarding the future use of the site/building, with the aim of its future being consistent with the Swanswell masterplan.


Central Depot – It appears that the demand for accommodation for new and growing cultural industries is in the Far Gosford Street area and therefore it is unlikely that the Central Depot will be developed for this sort of use and that any new scheme for the site would be principally housing based. The timing of the marketing of the site for this purpose is still being considered.

*******************************************************

[Jags]

just found this update on the web on the swanswell initiative meeting that happened on the 25th of Jan. Looks like some things are happening but very slowly.


*******************************************************
City College Phase 1 – Work is still on schedule and set to open in September this year. The coverings and scaffolding are now coming down to reveal the building.


City College Phase 2 – The second site visit to the college and viewing of the plans for Phase 2 is due to take place on Thursday 25 January 2007. Preliminary works for Phase 2 will begin as soon as the city council has possession of Cygnet and Orwell Court towards the end of January.


City College Multi Storey Car Park – I will continue to advise when the design for the proposed development moves forward.


Health Centre – Peter Hodder, Director of the Primary Care Teaching Trust, or a colleague will be at the Swanswell Initiative Community Liaison Group meeting on Thursday 25th January 2007 to discuss future healthcare in the area.


Academy - The city council have now submitted a report to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) regarding the proposal for a new school to replace Sidney Stringer which would be sponsored by Coventry City Council, City College, Coventry University and Jaguar and we await their response.


AXA Equity & Law site (Corporation Street) – Planning consent has now been granted for an office development with a small number of apartments and shops.


Bishop Street Post Sorting Office – Senior council officers have met with the Post Office who have advised of their intention to relocate the sorting office to Northampton. The city council is currently in negotiation regarding the future use of the site/building, with the aim of its future being consistent with the Swanswell masterplan.


Central Depot – It appears that the demand for accommodation for new and growing cultural industries is in the Far Gosford Street area and therefore it is unlikely that the Central Depot will be developed for this sort of use and that any new scheme for the site would be principally housing based. The timing of the marketing of the site for this purpose is still being considered.

*******************************************************

i had a feeling something was happening with the depot site, so its just going to be another boring housing estate again, unless they they really do something bold in that area the whole swanswell initiative will be a waste of time, its a prime peice of land along with the old hospital site, if this isnt utilised they may aswell give up now.

[Jags]

Coventry City Council is expected to raise its part of the council tax bill by 3.4% in April - an extra 54 pence a week for the average city household.

Final bills will include charges to pay for fire and police services in the city, although the exact amount has not yet been announced.

In the Council's annual budget report the increase has been proposed to keep up with inflation and pay for new investment in the city's schools, local neighbourhoods and roads. More money has been earmarked to support the Transport Museum and the Belgrade Theatre and for new schemes in the city centre and local neighbourhoods like Canley and Stoke Aldermoor, as well as continuing to fund day to day services like street cleaning and lighting and social services.

The Council's annual budget is £240million which pays for a wide range of services across the city including education, social services, street services, highways and roads, planning, regeneration, council tax collection, economic development, community development and more.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Tony O'Neill said: "We work very hard to try and maintain a careful balance between keeping council tax rises as low as possible and investing in services that make a real difference to people's lives.

"We're focusing on support for the people who need it most, funding to keep our streets and neighbourhoods clean and green and we want to continue to put money into ways of bringing long term changes and benefits to the city - we have ambitious plans for the future of Coventry and we want to see our city continue to develop and flourish over the next few years.

"Over the coming year we'll be testing everything we do to make sure it's providing the people of Coventry with real value for money.

"We're committed to providing the best possible services for customers efficiently and effectively, and our budget proposals achieve this."

Cabinet will discuss the report at their meeting on 13 February and councillors will make the final decision about the budget at a meeting of all councillors on 20 February.

The report includes £1.463million of savings proposals and £2.307million of new spending proposals. It also gives details of the consultation carried out by the council which has helped to shape the spending proposals.

Proposals in the report include a range of spending plans in the Council's revenue programme (which calls for ongoing funding) and capital programme (which pays for one off projects, often new buildings and equipment):

Investing in children
There is good performance in Coventry schools and Coventry children are achieving more at school. The gap is narrowing between Coventry and national performance but we still want to improve further by investing in our schools to improve attendance and the learning experience for young people.

Revenue

Two new Educational Welfare Officers £85k - to improve attendance and educational outcomes
More children are taking up our healthy school meals - £30k increased income
Capital

£16m capital programme in 2007/8 for Children, Learning and Young People's services, most of which will be invested in Coventry schools
Completing works at Willenhall Community Primary £570k this year; Aldermoor Farm £3.6m - work continuing
Stivichall School to start £6.4m
Broad Spectrum Primary School to start in future years
Academies and Building Schools for the Future
Computers for schools £279k
Investment in schools sports £350k
Investing in local neighbourhoods and local facilities
We are investing in local communities and local facilities to improve life for local people. We are responding to requests from local people for more investment in Neighbourhood Management to work with local communities to improve their neighbourhoods and local services; and continuing to invest in key facilities that are important to the city and to local people

Neighbourhood Management - revenue
£100k in community initiatives; activities funds and support for ward forums;
£75k to put additional support in local areas to help get things done;
£100k one-off Community Integration Programme and
£90k to replace radio system for street wardens
Further investment in project management to ensure the NDC area is transformed £120K
Regeneration of local communities - capital
NDC including Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre - £9m over 3 years
Stoke Aldermoor - £3m over 3 years
Far Gosford St £1.5m
Play Areas £0.5m
Canley £0.5m
Investing in local facilities
Capital

Whoberley Library £1m over 2 years
Tile Hill £1m
Revenue

Community Centres £220k one-off
Culture, sports and leisure
We are continuing to invest in the cultural development of the city - Herbert and the Transport Museum, Belgrade - but this is an area that we will need to consider further in the coming months.

Revenue

Increased grant to the Coventry Sports Trust £250k
UK Schools Games £50k
Transport Museum £400k
Capital

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum £11.6m over two years
Belgrade £0.4m
Continued investment in Parks and local environment -£1.8m
Investing in the city's future
City Centre
We need to transform the city centre and are working with partners to develop a city centre that meets everyone's needs, building on considerable private sector investment. The Council is continuing to invest in the regeneration of the city centre and its facilities and will be making this a main priority.

Capital

Swanswell £7.3m in total
City Centre package £0.4m
Burges/Ironmonger Row Highway Improvement, £2.2m over two years
Pool Meadow access £0.2m
Attracting new jobs and opportunities
The Council continues to invest to bring new jobs to the city; assist businesses already here and to promote the city's interests
Revenue

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority - £75k one off to support the move to bring new jobs to Coventry
Development Opportunities arising from Olympic Games - £60k investment to ensure Coventry benefits from the Olympics in 2012
Highways and transport
We are continuing to invest in things that people want, putting investment back in neglected areas; we are continuing to invest in improving our city's roads and pavements with an investment of over £23m in total on a major Highways and Lighting programme.

Capital

Primelines Bus improvements - £12.8m over 2 years
Local Transport Plan - £5.2m in 2007/08,
Additional Highways programme - £10m
Housing
Although the Council no longer owns housing it continues to work to ensure that low cost homes are being built in the city and that adaptations are made to assist disabled people to live in their own homes.

Housing Capital Programme £3m funded through Government grant for Disabled Facilities Grants etc
A Strategic Housing Regeneration programme of £5.8m to provide affordable homes for people who need them the most

[rottersclub]

just found this update on the web on the swanswell initiative meeting that happened on the 25th of Jan. Looks like some things are happening but very slowly.


*******************************************************
City College Phase 1 – Work is still on schedule and set to open in September this year. The coverings and scaffolding are now coming down to reveal the building.


City College Phase 2 – The second site visit to the college and viewing of the plans for Phase 2 is due to take place on Thursday 25 January 2007. Preliminary works for Phase 2 will begin as soon as the city council has possession of Cygnet and Orwell Court towards the end of January.


City College Multi Storey Car Park – I will continue to advise when the design for the proposed development moves forward.


Health Centre – Peter Hodder, Director of the Primary Care Teaching Trust, or a colleague will be at the Swanswell Initiative Community Liaison Group meeting on Thursday 25th January 2007 to discuss future healthcare in the area.


Academy - The city council have now submitted a report to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) regarding the proposal for a new school to replace Sidney Stringer which would be sponsored by Coventry City Council, City College, Coventry University and Jaguar and we await their response.


AXA Equity & Law site (Corporation Street) – Planning consent has now been granted for an office development with a small number of apartments and shops.


Bishop Street Post Sorting Office – Senior council officers have met with the Post Office who have advised of their intention to relocate the sorting office to Northampton. The city council is currently in negotiation regarding the future use of the site/building, with the aim of its future being consistent with the Swanswell masterplan.


Central Depot – It appears that the demand for accommodation for new and growing cultural industries is in the Far Gosford Street area and therefore it is unlikely that the Central Depot will be developed for this sort of use and that any new scheme for the site would be principally housing based. The timing of the marketing of the site for this purpose is still being considered.

*******************************************************

Where's the "Central Depot"?

Far Gosford Street is a filthy hellhole - despite being mainly medieval and listed. Why on Earth would cultural industries want to move there?

So that means the Swanswell/Electric Wharf Cultural "area" has gone to pot?

[Jags]

yep the urban village is nothing but a distant memory now, that was the thing that i was really looking forward to see being built.

[Dr Pepper]

There is a really smart looking bridge linking Electric Wharf with the Central Depot site which I think the EW developers paid for. Presumably they had some idea what was planned for the other side.

As for cultural industries in Far Gosford St, where exactly are they going to be based? There are some nice old buildings there but nothing big enough to house many creative companies, even small ones. There are a few light industrial units around there, do the council want to redevelop these and stop the area turning into student land? (not that that I mind students - I was one at Cov myself).

[rottersclub]

There is a really smart looking bridge linking Electric Wharf with the Central Depot site which I think the EW developers paid for. Presumably they had some idea what was planned for the other side.

As for cultural industries in Far Gosford St, where exactly are they going to be based? There are some nice old buildings there but nothing big enough to house many creative companies, even small ones. There are a few light industrial units around there, do the council want to redevelop these and stop the area turning into student land? (not that that I mind students - I was one at Cov myself).

I wondered that. Far Gosford street is virtually a no-go area. They keep ploughing money into it, but the same grim Pizza parlours open up and the same dodgy crowds hanging around.

I was a student once, but had the misfortune to live next door to some when we moved to Cov. They were the thickest, most arrogant arses I've ever met. I was doing a PhD and the wife a Msc, and they kept us awake most weekends.

That area IS student land and Pikey land. I can't see ANYONE wanting to set up there, and you're right - there's no land for any buildings, and the existing old medieval buildings are all dilapidated or filled with cheap pikey stores.

[rottersclub]

yep the urban village is nothing but a distant memory now, that was the thing that i was really looking forward to see being built.

Like I said a while back - it's best to give up on Cov. This is not new. Since the war they've had this constant set of plans that never come to anything.

I have to say that the Tory council has ruined a lot of these plans. They've pampered to the Nimby element and backed down. The best thing to do with Cov City centre is to frankly demolish most of it. No one wants to use it, most of it's been empty for years, and retailers are not interested.

[rottersclub]

According to the Coventry Observer, Ericsson may be setting up their UK HQ at Ansty. If this happens, it will be very good for Coventry indeed.

Also there's a lot of interest in the Ryton Peugot site - and it's not even up for sale. A bidding war has apparently begun.

According to Citivision, the council's newsletter, Friargate may provide up to 25,000 new jobs for the city centre. F**K knows WHERE!

[Jags]

ericsson are considering either ansty or loughbrough,
im sure peugeot site has been sold.
Friarsgate is huge, its going to be so dense, i think they have bought the park area opposite the station and the land at the back of the station on the other side of the tracks.

[inspired]

theres an article in the CET tonite about the butts development with some illustrations. £80 million is the figure thats been reported in the article on how much the development will cost. A dissapointment is that the tower block on the development is only going to be 9 stories.

Its a pity its located opposite a housing estate...

[rottersclub]

theres an article in the CET tonite about the butts development with some illustrations. £80 million is the figure thats been reported in the article on how much the development will cost. A dissapointment is that the tower block on the development is only going to be 9 stories.

Its a pity its located opposite a housing estate...

If you count the floors on the pictures in "ECHO", it's more like 14.

[rottersclub]

ericsson are considering either ansty or loughbrough,
im sure peugeot site has been sold.
Friarsgate is huge, its going to be so dense, i think they have bought the park area opposite the station and the land at the back of the station on the other side of the tracks.


They reckon Coventry's the frontrunner due to the local knowledge and telecoms skills already in the City. Loughborough is being looked at because it's halfway between Coventry and Beeston.

Peugot hasn't been sold - it's not even been put up for sale yet.

Friarsgate? Hmmm, I reckon a load of typical apartment blocks, plus some 14 storey towers and lots of glass and red brick with terracotta.

[Jags]

They reckon Coventry's the frontrunner due to the local knowledge and telecoms skills already in the City. Loughborough is being looked at because it's halfway between Coventry and Beeston.

Peugot hasn't been sold - it's not even been put up for sale yet.

Friarsgate? Hmmm, I reckon a load of typical apartment blocks, plus some 14 storey towers and lots of glass and red brick with terracotta.

but then again i think something is better than nothing, something has to be kicked started to get the better developments built in between the ordinary ones, too much of a good thing is not always good. i was reading an article yesterday about wolverhampton who are going the same thing around their station and it said that they may be in direct competition with coventry in terms of securing occupiers. the plans for that looked very impressive, and on a very large scale.

[rottersclub]

but then again i think something is better than nothing, something has to be kicked started to get the better developments built in between the ordinary ones, too much of a good thing is not always good. i was reading an article yesterday about wolverhampton who are going the same thing around their station and it said that they may be in direct competition with coventry in terms of securing occupiers. the plans for that looked very impressive, and on a very large scale.

Something may be better than nothing in the short term, but Coventry is filled with projects that have been done just to fill up some land - and we've been left with a mess of city centre that doesn't really gel. Maybe this one will be different. I certainly hope so, as the lack of jobs in my field and the depressing state of the city centre - not shops, but also lack of decent cultural/leisure activities - is beginning to make me think twice about staying here. Which is a shame, as I think the place could be far better than it is - the city doesn't seem to be able to tap into its potential.

Coventry should - really - wipe the floor with somewhere like Wolves.

[Dr Pepper]

Coventry should have a natural advantage over Wolverhampton as it is half an hour closer to London via the train.

I was having a look at Coventry in the maps section of www.live.com and it really is amazing just how much potential development land there is just within the ring road. Barracks car park, Shelton Sq, Bull Yard, Arcade, the market and the land behind between Belgrade Plaza and the Motor Museum. Roll on Phoenix II.

Actually live.com has isometric images that are really up to date, the City College is under construction and there is even a crowd in at the Ricoh, although there is no pitch marked out.

[rottersclub]

Here's what's planned for Victoria Buildings (Albert Buildings will be developed later). On the LHS is the edge of IKEA.

You need Java installed to see it.

http://webstreamer.coventry.gov.uk/Coventry_Planning/viewReference.asp?ref=x-ottp://http://webstreamer.coventry.gov.uk/groups_cdd/Planning/scan/2006/SCAN2500/R-2006-2500/Day%20view.jpg

It's going to be very odd down there when IKEA's finished and this thing is up - very enclosed!

[Dr Pepper]

Just had a look at the the Victoria buildings, I thinks its going to be a great addition to Coventry, its certainly going to be the best looking branch of Iceland in the country. The flats at the rear will have a lovely view of the market car park.

I drove past the new City College building and now that the scaffolding is starting to come off its starting to look like a pretty decent building. I'm still not too sure about the metal cladding on the front. Its shimmers silver in the sun but from a distance it looks rather grey which is the last thing Coventry needs. I believe the second building is due to start soon.

[Jags]

i actually thought they looked better before, they had that oriental look to them. But i suppose they are ok so long as they use a better cladding on the outside.

[Jags]

this was written by a senior surveyor for D&P Holt.

Happily, the positive outlook for 2006 predicted
in last year’s 2005 review has been proved
right and last year saw a number of exciting
developments coming to fruition in and around
Coventry. The commercial property market has
been active and industrial schemes in particular
have let and sold very well, with a significant
amount of large scale office development
proposed around the city centre for the near
future.
All six units, ranging from 7,500 sq ft to 50,000
sq ft at Cyan Park, Shepherd Development’s
scheme on the former Barras Heath Wholesale
market site fronting Phoenix Way were sold or
let before practical completion.
There are now over two million square feet
occupied at Prologis Park, where there are four
units of over 300,000 sq ft each. The majority
of occupiers are warehouse / logistics
operators, who have been attracted by the
proximity to J3 of the M6 and the links with the
national motorway network. Planning
applications have been submitted for the last
two sites on Plot H, of 23,500 and 106,000 sq ft
respectively.
On the other side of the A444, the Ricoh Arena
is now well established both as “Fortress
Ricoh” for the Sky Blues and a concert venue,
with several major name concerts including
Bryan Adams and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers
having taken place, and Rod Stewart already
booked in for next year.
Work is still ongoing in relation to
masterplanning Paragon Park, a proposed 60
acre mixed use development to be located on
the north side of Coventry, between Foleshill
Road and Stoney Stanton Road.
Axa and Stoford Developments obtained
planning consent for their development of
70,000 sq ft of offices, plus retail space and
residential apartments. This scheme will be
located at the junction of Corporation Street
and Bishop Street and will include a new public
square.
Work has now started on the 160 acre
Swanswell Initiative, transforming Coventry’s
skyline with the demolition of the Hillfields
Tower blocks. New homes are under
construction on Lower Ford Street and at the
time of writing the steelwork is up on City
College’s Phase I site.
World renowned architects Farrells are
masterplanning the long talked about
redevelopment of Station Square, a scheme
which is likely to extend to some three million
square feet and create a new gateway to the
city from the south. The scheme will
incorporate the former Inland Revenue site on
the other side of Warwick Road.
Construction is due to start on The Armoury in
the New Year, to create what will surely be a
unique building in the area, extending to 35,000
sq ft, fronting the Coventry Rugby Football Club
site on The Butts. There has been a very
encouraging level of interest received by us
and our joint agents, Norton Brown, with two
pre-lets being agreed at the time of writing,
before building work has even begun.
Whilst the office market for small leasehold,
and to a lesser extent freehold, units has been
difficult over the last year, we have had
something of a rush of interest in leasehold
units of around 4,000 sq ft over the last month,
which bodes well.
The larger scale developments mentioned
above show the strength of belief in Coventry’s
future as a major regional and national office
location, particularly with the fast rail
connection to London Euston, reachable in
around one hour ten minutes. The
announcement of the QCA to locate a new
80,000 sq ft office in Coventry has been a
major boost and will hopefully be the first of
many large scale office relocations to Coventry.
With this level of development planned for the
city in the coming months and years, the future
has to look bright for the ongoing reinvention of
the city and in much the same way, “Operation
Premiership” still seems a possibility for the
Sky Blues, currently hovering just outside the
play-off places.

[rottersclub]

this was written by a senior surveyor for D&P Holt.

Happily, the positive outlook for 2006 predicted
in last year’s 2005 review has been proved
right and last year saw a number of exciting
developments coming to fruition in and around
Coventry. The commercial property market has
been active and industrial schemes in particular
have let and sold very well, with a significant
amount of large scale office development
proposed around the city centre for the near
future.
All six units, ranging from 7,500 sq ft to 50,000
sq ft at Cyan Park, Shepherd Development’s
scheme on the former Barras Heath Wholesale
market site fronting Phoenix Way were sold or
let before practical completion.
There are now over two million square feet
occupied at Prologis Park, where there are four
units of over 300,000 sq ft each. The majority
of occupiers are warehouse / logistics
operators, who have been attracted by the
proximity to J3 of the M6 and the links with the
national motorway network. Planning
applications have been submitted for the last
two sites on Plot H, of 23,500 and 106,000 sq ft
respectively.
On the other side of the A444, the Ricoh Arena
is now well established both as “Fortress
Ricoh” for the Sky Blues and a concert venue,
with several major name concerts including
Bryan Adams and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers
having taken place, and Rod Stewart already
booked in for next year.
Work is still ongoing in relation to
masterplanning Paragon Park, a proposed 60
acre mixed use development to be located on
the north side of Coventry, between Foleshill
Road and Stoney Stanton Road.
Axa and Stoford Developments obtained
planning consent for their development of
70,000 sq ft of offices, plus retail space and
residential apartments. This scheme will be
located at the junction of Corporation Street
and Bishop Street and will include a new public
square.
Work has now started on the 160 acre
Swanswell Initiative, transforming Coventry’s
skyline with the demolition of the Hillfields
Tower blocks. New homes are under
construction on Lower Ford Street and at the
time of writing the steelwork is up on City
College’s Phase I site.
World renowned architects Farrells are
masterplanning the long talked about
redevelopment of Station Square, a scheme
which is likely to extend to some three million
square feet and create a new gateway to the
city from the south. The scheme will
incorporate the former Inland Revenue site on
the other side of Warwick Road.
Construction is due to start on The Armoury in
the New Year, to create what will surely be a
unique building in the area, extending to 35,000
sq ft, fronting the Coventry Rugby Football Club
site on The Butts. There has been a very
encouraging level of interest received by us
and our joint agents, Norton Brown, with two
pre-lets being agreed at the time of writing,
before building work has even begun.
Whilst the office market for small leasehold,
and to a lesser extent freehold, units has been
difficult over the last year, we have had
something of a rush of interest in leasehold
units of around 4,000 sq ft over the last month,
which bodes well.
The larger scale developments mentioned
above show the strength of belief in Coventry’s
future as a major regional and national office
location, particularly with the fast rail
connection to London Euston, reachable in
around one hour ten minutes. The
announcement of the QCA to locate a new
80,000 sq ft office in Coventry has been a
major boost and will hopefully be the first of
many large scale office relocations to Coventry.
With this level of development planned for the
city in the coming months and years, the future
has to look bright for the ongoing reinvention of
the city and in much the same way, “Operation
Premiership” still seems a possibility for the
Sky Blues, currently hovering just outside the
play-off places.

Well Swanswell is dead.

What is happening with Park Court?

[Jags]

well after reading that it seems it will be incorporated into the station complex. maybe a new linkage and redesign aswell.

i was reading yesterday that the station area was only going to be 1m sq ft at first now its estimated at three million. they are marketing office,retail and leisure space already even though it hasnt even been finalised yet.

[rottersclub]

Here's the new Belgrade Theatre extension.

I think it's absolutely awful. One of the worst buildings I've ever seen.

http://i16.tinypic.com/2gx4idz.jpg

[Jags]

its ugly it looks cheap and i will guarantee in 3 years it will need replacing, its just as bad on the inside as it is on the outside.

[Jags]

if you look at leicesters new theater compared to this, covs one it just embarassing.

[Dr Pepper]

Well to be fair the theatre extension isn't finished yet and most buildings look a bit crap on a damp winters afternoon. I think I shall reserve judgement until its finished.

[MWRIGH17]

Well to be fair the theatre extension isn't finished yet and most buildings look a bit crap on a damp winters afternoon. I think I shall reserve judgement until its finished.

Without wishing to comment on the Belgrave redevelopment - as I haven't seen it in the flesh for some time - Leicester's Performing Arts Centre looks breathtaking on a damp winters afternoon. I parked up two weeks ago and took a look at it. Although not even a sealed building yet and not a skyscraper by any means it is probably got the biggest wow factor of any building being built in the Midlands and part of an exciting cultural quarter.

However, it has cost £60m and the City Council recognise and support Leicester's position as the second most creative place in the country. Without this you won't get the venues.

[rottersclub]

Without wishing to comment on the Belgrave redevelopment - as I haven't seen it in the flesh for some time - Leicester's Performing Arts Centre looks breathtaking on a damp winters afternoon. I parked up two weeks ago and took a look at it. Although not even a sealed building yet and not a skyscraper by any means it is probably got the biggest wow factor of any building being built in the Midlands and part of an exciting cultural quarter.

However, it has cost £60m and the City Council recognise and support Leicester's position as the second most creative place in the country. Without this you won't get the venues.

Leicester the 2nd most creative place in the country?

I've never heard that said about Leicester before!?!? I suppose it is the home of "Showaddywaddy". LOL.

The Belgrade extension looks absolutely atrocious.

[di Livio]

To be fair, the theatre redevelopment looked bad in the render.

New Building for the Digital Manufacturing Msc at Warwick University.


http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/ftmsc/content_store/dmm-site/faq/wdl/wdl6.jpg


http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/ftmsc/content_store/dmm-site/faq/wdl/wdl5.jpg

[inspired]

illustration of the new upcoming development on the Victoria Building site

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/iccoventry/feb2007/0/9/DA6D720A-C590-79A2-9078CFBBA9DDB4D3.jpg

[MWRIGH17]

Leicester the 2nd most creative place in the country?

I've never heard that said about Leicester before!?!? I suppose it is the home of "Showaddywaddy". LOL.

The Belgrade extension looks absolutely atrocious.

Yes Leicester is second only to Manchester (and that includes London). Source Boho Index.

[rottersclub]

Yes Leicester is second only to Manchester (and that includes London). Source Boho Index.

Fankly, I think you're living in a fantasy land. London is the centre of the UK film, television, publishing and theatre industry. Are you seriously saying that Leicester & Manchester are more "creative"? Most of the UK's top architects, advertising agencies are in London.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/regeneration/story/0,,964086,00.html

This survey used 3 indicators - patent applications, gay scene and ethnic diversity.

That's hardly 3 criteria to state that Leicester is the 2nd most creative place in the country! Stop taking these think tank surveys so seriously! The patent figure is per-head of population.

I imagine if you looked at it in terms of "creative industries" you'd find Leicester way down the list.

[MWRIGH17]

Fankly, I think you're living in a fantasy land. London is the centre of the UK film, television, publishing and theatre industry. Are you seriously saying that Leicester & Manchester are more "creative"? Most of the UK's top architects, advertising agencies are in London.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/regeneration/story/0,,964086,00.html

This survey used 3 indicators - patent applications, gay scene and ethnic diversity.

That's hardly 3 criteria to state that Leicester is the 2nd most creative place in the country! Stop taking these think tank surveys so seriously! The patent figure is per-head of population.

I imagine if you looked at it in terms of "creative industries" you'd find Leicester way down the list.


I don't know why you appear to be so negative about Leicester's ranking in this survey, you clearly know little about the City.

I think you miss the point and one that is stated quite clearly by the survey should you wish to read it – creativity in the population leads to economic advantages. Creative, innovative and entrepreneurial individuals tend to be found in centres of high gay and cultural density. Leicester has both and can clearly be seen to be a highly creative City than by using your own restricted interpretation of what is creative. Furthermore Leicester was placed 3rd in the Gay Times' 'gay friendly' places to live list and 2nd as most aspired place to live.

No one doubts that London is the centre of most industries, however, the survey looked at the 40 largest Cities proportionately and in fact had small Cities been used they would have featured high in the list. With Leicester being the 10th largest City in the UK it shows there is a high concentration of 'creativity' in the City for it to come second. I would imagine Leicester to again be higher up the list than 10th on any criteria of "creative industries" you would construct

[rottersclub]

I don't know why you appear to be so negative about Leicester's ranking in this survey, you clearly know little about the City.

I think you miss the point and one that is stated quite clearly by the survey should you wish to read it – creativity in the population leads to economic advantages. Creative, innovative and entrepreneurial individuals tend to be found in centres of high gay and cultural density. Leicester has both and can clearly be seen to be a highly creative City than by using your own restricted interpretation of what is creative. Furthermore Leicester was placed 3rd in the Gay Times' 'gay friendly' places to live list and 2nd as most aspired place to live.

No one doubts that London is the centre of most industries, however, the survey looked at the 40 largest Cities proportionately and in fact had small Cities been used they would have featured high in the list. With Leicester being the 10th largest City in the UK it shows there is a high concentration of 'creativity' in the City for it to come second. I would imagine Leicester to again be higher up the list than 10th on any criteria of "creative industries" you would construct

I wasn't being negative about Leicester. I was more incredulous at your rather outrageous claim.

The key word is "proportion" here, and your assertion that leicester is the 2nd most creative place in the UK is clearly not valid.

So Gay communities and ethnic communities bring some "creativity"? Many other factors bring creativity.

I read that survey & report a year ago, when it was first published, and was equally sceptical of it then. Your initial comment was in light of a new theatre, by the way, so you're the one who made the link with creative industries.

Look at this way: I work for a large hi tech firm, and every employee has to submit one patent application a year. Many firms do this these days. Most get rejected.

Stop being so naive. This survey doesn't big up Leicester as a creative capital - it just says "Leicester people (Or probably leicester businesses) make patent applications, have a gay community in which gays own businesses and has ethnic minorities that own businesees." Divided up by population, it looks big.

I'm equally sceptical about Coventry's 8th position.

Don't bother replying to this with more reams of defensive justification, because I'm just not interested, to be frank.

[d4mo85]

I think it's pretty much impossible to have a discussion of this kind when you're trying to have it with somebody from a 'rival city'

Whether you think there is a rivalry or not, certain people in this thread clearly show there is, at least on some levels.

[rottersclub]

I think it's pretty much impossible to have a discussion of this kind when you're trying to have it with somebody from a 'rival city'

Whether you think there is a rivalry or not, certain people in this thread clearly show there is, at least on some levels.

Nothing to do with "rivalry" - I just think the sort of outrageous claims made based on some obscure think tank's "Per head" figures are laughable.

As a matter of fact, me & the wife go to Leicester shopping more often than we go into Coventry! The shops are much better.

[Leicity82]

Rivalry or not, both Leicester and Coventry are two city's that have alot going for them and are both overshadowed by their neighbours i.e. Birmingham and Nottingham. I've been to Coventry and found the area around the cathedral, especially, a nice place and the visitor centre at the site of the original cathedral site was really modern and spaceous.

The 1960's planners have not been helpful to either of the city's (perhaps more so in Coventry than Leicester) and therefore we have got alot of catching-up to do.

What both city's need to do is show that they have what it takes to compete with other city's that are well into their regeneration programmes.

[rottersclub]

Massive bridge over 8 lanes of ringroad!

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=building-a-bridge-to-a-safer-city%2D%2D%2D%26method=full%26objectid=18652880%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

Tyneside eat your heart out.LOL.

What a mess. It's bad enough that they built the bloody ringroad, now they're going to stick ugly metal bridges over it. LOL.

[skybluecity]

disagree martin. like it or not, that section of the ringroad is here to stay. the best we can hope for is the lowering of the section between sky blue way and the foleshill road.

bridges can, if done properly, be very striking and eyecatching. hopefully they´ll get it right. either way, a bridge on that scale will be a very interesting addition to the skyline.

timescale seems a bit strange. 3 years to build a bridge?

[ccfc-4-life]

Massive bridge over 8 lanes of ringroad!

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=building-a-bridge-to-a-safer-city%2D%2D%2D%26method=full%26objectid=18652880%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

Tyneside eat your heart out.LOL.

What a mess. It's bad enough that they built the bloody ringroad, now they're going to stick ugly metal bridges over it. LOL.

lol, just read that in the paper, holy s**t, i guess that means the ring roads not going anywhere anytime soon...DOH!

[rottersclub]

disagree martin. like it or not, that section of the ringroad is here to stay. the best we can hope for is the lowering of the section between sky blue way and the foleshill road.

bridges can, if done properly, be very striking and eyecatching. hopefully they´ll get it right. either way, a bridge on that scale will be a very interesting addition to the skyline.

timescale seems a bit strange. 3 years to build a bridge?

Oh I know, but I don't think Coventry will ever improve while the ringroad's there.

[sleslie48]

Yeah Have to say I agree, slightly dissappointed as always have the romantic idea in the back of my mind that someone would come along and just say "get rid of the ring road" In reality tho, it's a good idea as long as they do it properly and make city centre access seemless to pedestrians. I always thought it would be good to link roads up again that were split in two when the ring road was built. Not gonna happen I know, but they really bug me. Could act as releaf roads. Shoot me down....

[rottersclub]

Yeah Have to say I agree, slightly dissappointed as always have the romantic idea in the back of my mind that someone would come along and just say "get rid of the ring road" In reality tho, it's a good idea as long as they do it properly and make city centre access seemless to pedestrians. I always thought it would be good to link roads up again that were split in two when the ring road was built. Not gonna happen I know, but they really bug me. Could act as releaf roads. Shoot me down....

You have to remember the ringroad was designed in the 1940s, when Coventry was a lot smaller than it is now in terms of area (Although I believe the population was about 250,000 - it rose to a peak of 360K in the 70s). Prior to the war, the city was very concentrated in the inner city areas and the old medieval "courts", but these had been bombed so the city's post-war suburbs were constructed. Not only that, migrants continued to arrive to work in the factories. Originally Corporation Street was going to the be northern stretch of the ringroad, but they made it bigger.

The only way they'll ever get rid of the ringroad is if they make it easier to get around the city further out - or implement a fairly comprehensive public transport network that means they can start degrading bits of it. As they're doing neither, we're stuck with it, and places like the canal basin will never fulfill their potential. Putting underground is not an option.

Friargate should be the best chance to do something interesting... It's down in a cutting there so it should be possible to do something good. I wish they'd do something to remove the flyovers and stuff from Greyfriar's Green... Such a nice area, and the only part of Coventry that still almost looks the same now as it did back before the bombings. If that was linked to the new station development, we'd have something that'd make a large area of the city very pleasant indeed!

[rottersclub]

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=plan-can-bring-over-500-jobs%26method=full%26objectid=18659039%26page=1%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

Does this mean Park Court is well and truly gone now?

Looks like the 20 storey tower is toast.

[Dr Pepper]

Looks like the residential is taking a back seat. The demand seems to be for office space.

[rottersclub]

Looks like the residential is taking a back seat. The demand seems to be for office space.

I think that's good. Hopefully they can fill all the offices. Cov desparately needs more city centre workers.

[Dr Pepper]

Bid to lure John Lewis to CovFeb 23 2007




By Fiona Scott


THE campaign is on to bring top department store John Lewis to Coventry.

Council officials are going all out to attract the company following news that it is planning a huge expansion.

John Lewis bosses have revealed they are looking to expand the number of stores and to create thousands more jobs over the next 10 years.

John Lewis is one of the best known brands in the high street and has provided a massive boost to other towns and cities, including Solihull and Milton Keynes.

Both Coventry City Council and the city centre company CV One have been trying for several years to woo the store.

But Paul Beesley, the council's team leader for property development, said John Lewis had been "lukewarm" because it believed there wasn't enough money in the area.

Coventry officials are hoping to change that perception by providing statistics on just how much spending power there is in the local economy.

They're also hoping that the changing face of the city centre, combined with plans to expand the city by an extra 24,500 homes, could help clinch a deal.

Leading city academic Professor Keith Cowling, of Warwick University, said the fact that Ikea was opening a new store in Coventry could help.

He said: "This would be an obvious place for John Lewis to go, providing the city was enthusiastic.

"I think the Ikea development will put Coventry on the map for such expansion in the future."

John Lewis was voted Britain's favourite retailer in a poll by Which? magazine.

Customers gave it top marks for its range, customer service, shopping experience and prices.

The firm has plans to open stores in Cardiff, Oxford, Portsmouth, Leeds, Preston and Crawley.

CV One investment manager Pete Walters said both John Lewis and its sister company Waitrose were high on Coventry's wish list.



Well good luck to them, they are gonna need it!

[rottersclub]

Bid to lure John Lewis to CovFeb 23 2007




By Fiona Scott


THE campaign is on to bring top department store John Lewis to Coventry.

Council officials are going all out to attract the company following news that it is planning a huge expansion.

John Lewis bosses have revealed they are looking to expand the number of stores and to create thousands more jobs over the next 10 years.

John Lewis is one of the best known brands in the high street and has provided a massive boost to other towns and cities, including Solihull and Milton Keynes.

Both Coventry City Council and the city centre company CV One have been trying for several years to woo the store.

But Paul Beesley, the council's team leader for property development, said John Lewis had been "lukewarm" because it believed there wasn't enough money in the area.

Coventry officials are hoping to change that perception by providing statistics on just how much spending power there is in the local economy.

They're also hoping that the changing face of the city centre, combined with plans to expand the city by an extra 24,500 homes, could help clinch a deal.

Leading city academic Professor Keith Cowling, of Warwick University, said the fact that Ikea was opening a new store in Coventry could help.

He said: "This would be an obvious place for John Lewis to go, providing the city was enthusiastic.

"I think the Ikea development will put Coventry on the map for such expansion in the future."

John Lewis was voted Britain's favourite retailer in a poll by Which? magazine.

Customers gave it top marks for its range, customer service, shopping experience and prices.

The firm has plans to open stores in Cardiff, Oxford, Portsmouth, Leeds, Preston and Crawley.

CV One investment manager Pete Walters said both John Lewis and its sister company Waitrose were high on Coventry's wish list.



Well good luck to them, they are gonna need it!

It'll never happen. The stats for spending power may be good, but the stats for what's spent in Coventry are woeful.

[Dr Pepper]

A bit chicken and egg. A John Lewis in Cov would bring in alot more higher spending folk but John Lewis are not going to build untill they are already spending.

If they were to come to Cov the Primark store would be a good location - a pre-existing, large building in a prominent location. Personally I would favour a purpose built store where the Arcade/Market/Shelton Sq is located. It would pull people along Smithford Way encouraging better shops to be built there. This would give the precinct the Broardgate-Ikea east-west axis and a West Orchard-John Lewis north-south axis.

A man can dream.

[d4mo85]

I hope Coventry gets the boost it needs to the retail section. I used to love going to Cov as a kid, doing the car museum and so on.. I just hope it gets the attention Leicester is now recieving.

Actually thinking about it, would it be worth John Lewis going to Cov now that they are building a huge one in Leicester??

[inspired]

I heard on the local radio that the council are going to pedestrianise the burgees and planning a square somewhere there to relocate the godvia statue to. Figures that were reported on the radio suggest that the council are going to spend £4m on this scheme?:nuts:

[sleslie48]

thats ridiculous

[rottersclub]

A bit chicken and egg. A John Lewis in Cov would bring in alot more higher spending folk but John Lewis are not going to build untill they are already spending.

If they were to come to Cov the Primark store would be a good location - a pre-existing, large building in a prominent location. Personally I would favour a purpose built store where the Arcade/Market/Shelton Sq is located. It would pull people along Smithford Way encouraging better shops to be built there. This would give the precinct the Broardgate-Ikea east-west axis and a West Orchard-John Lewis north-south axis.

A man can dream.

Exactly. Coventry's spent too long just accepting that "people with money won't spend here". Now they have got their wish, and shops won't open up here. They'll open in Solihull & the same branches will open in Leamington, Leicester and other places. But they won't touch what is the closest major centre for almost a million people.

How can they attract all these extra people they want if the city centre is so poor? They won't.

I keep saying it: Coventry as a city has some severe problems that aren't going to be fixed by slapping up a few civil servant offices, some botched attempts at squares and a cheap Swedish furniture store. The place is filled with botched attempts at regeneration. They can do all this, but the workers will live in Warwickshire, and people will go to Ikea and leave. The city has no lifeblood or footfall and traffic. It's just an empty shell filled with empty buses and dead ends. When are they going to stop these stupid tweaks and sort out the real problems?

The city is so rubbish they have kept a 2 level precinct that HASN'T WORKED for 50 YEARS. It was A FAILED IDEA based on the whims of inexperienced architects and planners - they were trying to make it like "Chester's Rows." They keep that stupid ramp that doesn't go anywhere. Why haven't they got to the guts to just tear it down? It's a horrible mess and utterly pointless, yet it's still there 50 years after the experiment failed.

They made a mess 50 years ago, and we're still paying for it. I think it's too late to fix now. Other towns have raced ahead, Coventry's languishing with a middle class populace that don't like the city centre, and the rest are just a bunch of pikeys who don't care.

Coventry's about on a par with dismal places like Blackburn and Burnley.

There's nowhere to put John Lewis, and there's no real interest from John Lewis anyway. Coventry council are begging them.

This city is a mess, and I don't see any way forward.

The place was built for the motor and aircraft industries. It's got no real attractions, it's got no character, it's got no features. Just clinging onto three spires and a statue.

I can actually see that there's no point sitting around waiting for the place to get decent. It's not going to happen. They aren't attracting decent jobs, they're not attracting decent stores, and they're not attracting decent people.

[rottersclub]

They're now trying to make that dismal area behind Primark into a (Yawn) "City Square".

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=godiva-set-for-move%2D%26method=full%26objectid=18674783%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

This just sums up the uselessness of Coventry. That area is utterly depressing and ugly. It's littered with cheap retail units and empty offices, and on one side has a 6 storey blank brick wall.

It won't make a decent square. It just won't. It'll still be an ugly, depressing part of town lined with ugly, awkward buildings.

Why are they still trying to polish this turd? They've been trying for years to make Coventry look nice. Sticking down paving and a few stone balls won't make what is essentially an area of cheap ugly architecture look good. It won't make people go there.

[Jags]

Park court tower isnt toast, some of my family have bought off plan apartments in the tower, and they havent been told anything, plus they are going with the plans that have already been approved, which has the tower.

Iv got this horrible feeling that Friarsgate isnt going to be as bold as first thought, im not sure why but i just think its going to be a reclad or something like that and a spruce up of the environment.

John Lewis is a good occupier but they are only going to come if they want to not because cv1 are wooing them, cv1 are a bunch of clowns who have no business background and if anything they are driving business away not in, if a burger king cant sustain enough business to stay open then who in their right mind will open in coventry.

The sq on the burges is just an absolute joke, its a waste of £4million, no retailer is going to sort of their premesis just because the street is being resurfaced, which chippy would sort their takeaway out just for that? they need to get millenium view built and occupied, they the office complex and the the Palmer lane area sorted then demolish the buildings on the side of the old argos and make its look better, it would make a really nice area to turn into some independant bars and cafes, only then will it be worth regenerating.

[rottersclub]

Park court tower isnt toast, some of my family have bought off plan apartments in the tower, and they havent been told anything, plus they are going with the plans that have already been approved, which has the tower.

Iv got this horrible feeling that Friarsgate isnt going to be as bold as first thought, im not sure why but i just think its going to be a reclad or something like that and a spruce up of the environment.

John Lewis is a good occupier but they are only going to come if they want to not because cv1 are wooing them, cv1 are a bunch of clowns who have no business background and if anything they are driving business away not in, if a burger king cant sustain enough business to stay open then who in their right mind will open in coventry.

The sq on the burges is just an absolute joke, its a waste of £4million, no retailer is going to sort of their premesis just because the street is being resurfaced, which chippy would sort their takeaway out just for that? they need to get millenium view built and occupied, they the office complex and the the Palmer lane area sorted then demolish the buildings on the side of the old argos and make its look better, it would make a really nice area to turn into some independant bars and cafes, only then will it be worth regenerating.


I love the Phoenix Initiative - I just wish I had more reason to go down there - but it's taken too long to finish off the square and it's suffering with the bus lane through it. A real shame, as there is some good quality architecture there and the place looks brilliant at night. It's just incomplete, and there's no sign of it being started in the near future. I don't even think there's a planning application for Millennium view.

[Jags]

I love the Phoenix Initiative - I just wish I had more reason to go down there - but it's taken too long to finish off the square and it's suffering with the bus lane through it. A real shame, as there is some good quality architecture there and the place looks brilliant at night. It's just incomplete, and there's no sign of it being started in the near future. I don't even think there's a planning application for Millennium view.

no there isnt, ur right the council dont even chase it up, they should choose another developer who will get it started within months

[inspired]

i think the council should give up on the city centre..lol:lol: and look at developing areas just outside the periphery of the ring road. Then to open up all the roads within the city centre again to one-way and two-way traffic including the precinct. A road that comes in from the back of the market, via woolworths and towards the fountain thingy then a sharp right upto to broadgate...that should liven things up and people would have better access to that area.

Interested in how the plans for this new burgees square has two way traffic flowing from broadgate to trinity street. Does this mean that private traffic is aload in broadgate?

Looking forward to see the butts development go ahead, hope its of a high spec. Also to see whats happening to the ansty site.

On the ring road issue - im not sure but i have noticed that large commercial vehicles dont use this as much and its mainly private, therefore is there an arguement that the ringroad should be lowered inline with better public transport facilities, especially with todays current environmental issue

[Jags]

i think the council should give up on the city centre..lol:lol: and look at developing areas just outside the periphery of the ring road. Then to open up all the roads within the city centre again to one-way and two-way traffic including the precinct. A road that comes in from the back of the market, via woolworths and towards the fountain thingy then a sharp right upto to broadgate...that should liven things up and people would have better access to that area.

Interested in how the plans for this new burgees square has two way traffic flowing from broadgate to trinity street. Does this mean that private traffic is aload in broadgate?

Looking forward to see the butts development go ahead, hope its of a high spec. Also to see whats happening to the ansty site.

On the ring road issue - im not sure but i have noticed that large commercial vehicles dont use this as much and its mainly private, therefore is there an arguement that the ringroad should be lowered inline with better public transport facilities, especially with todays current environmental issue
I think traffic will be blocked on the burgess but instead they will allow two way traffic on trinity street.
The butts development doesactually look quite good even though i havnt really seen much of it. Ansty is looking good indead, planning consent has now been awarded and Tata are considering building rite next to it which could employ 1000 people, so over all its an employment site for i would say at least 3-4000, all jobs are highly paid research jobs which will bring more money into the economy and a better class of people.

[inspired]

ive recently seen that the council are doing some regeneration in canley, but the locals did not like some of the plans as it means they are going to demolish those horrible council homes down.

Is the council trying the move these types of people ,who live in these council properties, out and are trying to better the reputation of this area as its so close to westwood heath and kenilworth road.

I believe the paragon park development between foleshill road and stoney staton road is still going ahead as someone told me (who attends the hindu temple on the site) that the temple will be knocked down and a new one built within the development. They were asked by the developers to come up with some funds so that they can build temple as part of their development.