Following a request from another user to start a new thread (owing to the fact that many of the images on the original thread had expired), I have done my best to come up with a summary of projects underway in coventry. This is by no means comprehensive, and some of the images/renders are not the best, so maybe some of my fellow cov posters can help me out a little.

the axa development is a mixed use scheme, incorporating new offices, shops, apartments and an attractive public square. the image doesn't really do it justice however. the new building is in the foreground.
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/image/?image_id=16350048

friargate is a massive new office development next to coventry station. check out the developers site for more info - www.friargatecoventry.co.uk. at the moment its at the 'masterplan' stage, although a planning application for friargate 1 has been submitted (image below).
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/image/?image_id=16349024

the massive new city centre ikea (the first of its kind) is currently under construction and is due for completion around xmas.
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/img/local_img/coventry/coventryview2_250x250.gif
http://ikeacoventry.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/pano290707a450.jpg
http://ikeacoventry.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/pano050807_450.jpg

millenium place is the final piece of the phoenix intiative jigsaw. check out the developers site - www.cordwell-propert.co.uk - for more info. developement is mainly residential with a few shops and bars at street level.
http://i3.tinypic.com/54jr1p5.jpg
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/image/?image_id=14761099

just outside the city centre there are plans for a large mixed use deveopment at the butts, including a new office building for the relocated QCA (foreground)
http://i10.tinypic.com/53zb31f.gif

currently under construction is the new city college in hillfields. building 1 is near completion and building 2 (shown below) is now under construction.
http://i19.tinypic.com/4v6vfgm.jpgcollege2

the belgrade plaza developement is now underway. it will include shops, bars/restaurants, 2 hotels (including radison edwardian), a casino and a small residential element.
http://www.belgradeplaza.co.uk/images/aboutbel2006.jpg
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/772/amendedviewng6.jpg
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/910/amendedview2tu8.jpg

the belgrade plaza will be situated next to the belgrade theatre, which is currently being extended (see below).
http://i15.tinypic.com/5z6awrp.jpg

the herbert art gallery (situated close to coventry cathedral) is also currently undergoing an extension.
http://www.theherbert.org/images/N1.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/4m2bsya.jpg
http://ikeacoventry.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/panoherbert450.jpg

like i say, by no means comprehensive. apologies.

Great job SBC!

nice picture updats i hope this will lure more people into posting on these threads more:)

Well done.

There's also:

Victoria Buildings

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

http://i9.tinypic.com/6argepl.jpg

At night:
http://i5.tinypic.com/52awhsn.jpg

Friars Road Apartments (Which I believe is starting soon!)

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=656968

There used to be a document somewhere with some really cool renderings, but I can't seem to find it on the portal.


Belgrade Plaza has an office element in it as well.

Forgot to say that Belgrade Plaza also features some 500 apartments alongside the bars, restaurants, hotels, offices and casino.

In the region of 6billion pounds of developments are hitting Cov.

what exactly is happening with victoria buildings? wasn't the original plan for iceland to move into the new building, and a new 'twin' tower be built where iceland is now?

what exactly is happening with victoria buildings? wasn't the original plan for iceland to move into the new building, and a new 'twin' tower be built where iceland is now?

Yup. No sign of it happening - the second tower was supposed to have the old market clock on top of it.

I like that building on the last pictures. How comes its a different colour in the day? Is it lighting doing that? Not sure about the day time colour.

I like that building on the last pictures. How comes its a different colour in the day? Is it lighting doing that? Not sure about the day time colour.

Maybe they've invented a special material that changes colour?:)

Not sure why they are different. It could be lighting. A lot of the existing towers in Coventry are lit these days. Some sort of weather forecasting system they installed.

Has anyone seen the Coventry telegraph today? The front page is a headline about "2000 jobs"?!?

Has anyone seen the Coventry telegraph today? The front page is a headline about "2000 jobs"?!?


Bid to bring 2000 jobs to Coventry

Sep 10 2007

By Lucy Lynch, Education Reporter

AN ambitious plan to bring 2,000 top jobs to Coventry has been unveiled.
Government departments are being moved out of London - and Warwick University has spotted the chance to encourage them to set up bases in this region.
The uni wants to build an office complex for civil servants and at its heart would be a new university school of public policy and management for training civil servants.
Bosses believe that would give the university an edge over competitors hoping to attract the civil service, as it moves out of the capital.
The university hasn't revealed whether it intends the new development to be within the existing campus, adjoining it, or at a separate location in the city.

Vice chancellor Professor Nigel Thrift believes the "public sector park" would attract at least 2,000 well-paid jobs by 2015.
He said: "Warwick has a long and reputable tradition of involvement in public policy.
"The government has a policy of decanting out of London. And we already have some of these institutions in Coventry, such as Becta (a government education organisation) and a number of NHS organisations."
In addition to luring the civil service, the plan would be to invite organisations such as examination boards to set up new bases here.
A major hurdle, if bosses intend expanding the present university campus, would be obtaining planning permission.
Neighbouring residents will be concerned over any loss of green space and they might point out that the surrounding roads are already jammed at peak times with university traffic.
The campus is bordered by green belt to the south which would normally restrict commercial development.
Residents on the Kenilworth and Westwood Heath sides of the campus will be anxious if there is a threat to the large swathe of land between Gibbet Hill Road and Cryfield Grange Road, which is owned by the university and laid out for sports pitches.
The proposals for a public sector park are in addition to plans announced in July to expand the campus area by 40 per cent, partly by building on green-belt land
In addition to luring the civil service, the plan would be to invite organisations such as examination boards to set up new bases here.
A major hurdle, if bosses intend expanding the present university campus, would be obtaining planning permission.
Neighbouring residents will be concerned over any loss of green space and they might point out that the surrounding roads are already jammed at peak times with university traffic.
The campus is bordered by green belt to the south which would normally restrict commercial development.
Residents on the Kenilworth and Westwood Heath sides of the campus will be anxious if there is a threat to the large swathe of land between Gibbet Hill Road and Cryfield Grange Road, which is owned by the university and laid out for sports pitches.
The proposals for a public sector park are in addition to plans announced in July to expand the campus area by 40 per cent, partly by building on green-belt land.
A planning application for that development has been made to Warwick District Council.
But university bosses could ask for special permission for development.



Could be a rival for the station plans.

This could be another use for "Friargate"... 2,000 is only a fraction of the number of jobs to be created there. I doubt they'd let them build on green land!

Although the council need to up their efforts to get more private businesses & HQs - we don't the place filled with civil servants!!!!!:)

This could be another use for "Friargate"... 2,000 is only a fraction of the number of jobs to be created there. I doubt they'd let them build on green land!....

Yeah this would be perfect for Friargate - all those civil servants just 59mins from London with a possible 50 services a day between Cov and London. They would also demand a high quality development (especially if Warwick Uni are involved in it)....Fantastic

Tesco planning massive expansion at Cannon Park (Which will include student accomdation, a building built on stilts over the car park, and also upgrades to the existing shopping mall.)

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=jobs-boost-as-store-plans-expansion%26method=full%26objectid=19766846%26siteid=50003-name_page.html


Hmmm, can't see the road system round there being able to handle more traffic!!!

Also in the same article from the above, is note about a credit card processing company creating 300 jobs in the city:

Credit card processing company TSYS announced it was also creating jobs in the city.

The company, which will be running customer care services for Nationwide's credit card customers, will be recruiting 300 people at its new centre at Binley Business Park when the offices open in March 2008.

TSYS bosses have stated that the contract with Nationwide is long term and further posts could be created if there is a need to expand.
Adam Foster from TSYS said: "We carried out a substantial assessment of the UK, including a demographic of cities in England.




"Coventry scored very highly on the skills needed and we found we would be able to recruit people from the city for a number of years."

Also in the same article from the above, is note about a credit card processing company creating 300 jobs in the city:

Credit card processing company TSYS announced it was also creating jobs in the city.

The company, which will be running customer care services for Nationwide's credit card customers, will be recruiting 300 people at its new centre at Binley Business Park when the offices open in March 2008.

TSYS bosses have stated that the contract with Nationwide is long term and further posts could be created if there is a need to expand.
Adam Foster from TSYS said: "We carried out a substantial assessment of the UK, including a demographic of cities in England.




"Coventry scored very highly on the skills needed and we found we would be able to recruit people from the city for a number of years."



i work on the business park where they're building this call centre. Its quite big.

Today's Guardian has a large article about Warwick University and their future plans.

Roughtly, campus expansion of 40% - and this is aimed at bringing in research from around the world. The aim is to make Warwick one of the WORLD'S top 5 University by 2015. The expansion will be aimed at attracting four overseas universities to set up research centres in Coventry.

The article also has the Vice Chancellor talking about Coventry's excellent location and how people underestimate how pivotal it is. It's position is at the centre of North and South, East and West.

Also Warwick Arts centre is undergoing a huge revamp.:banana: :banana: And there're plans for an Olympic Swimming pool on campus.

To cap it all, the Vice Chancellor's got excellent taste in music - the article citing that he's a fan of Richard Thompson.:banana:

IMHO, this plan is exciting for Coventry - as the city benefits from the university hugely. Now they just to take advantage of it even more! I hope the council get fully behind them.

i work on the business park where they're building this call centre. Its quite big.

Surely Call Centres require 'low skilled' workers... i doubt £14K a year would attract much else.

Surely Call Centres require 'low skilled' workers... i doubt £14K a year would attract much else.

I doesn't say it's just a call centre.

A business of 300 people will employ a mix of people - a lot of IT support staff - which is well paid - and probably HR staff, middle managers, etc. They may also have security teams to investigate internet fraud accusations. I think it's better than another supermarket, and definitely better than another warehouse.

Here's the Warwick Uni article:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2166100,00.html

just come across this friargate 'masterplan' model. it does give you some idea of the scale of the development.

http://www.holtcommercial.co.uk/images/friargateindicativemasterplan.jpg

just come across this friargate 'masterplan' model. it does give you some idea of the scale of the development.

http://www.holtcommercial.co.uk/images/friargateindicativemasterplan.jpg

This is out of date now - there's a newer model out there somewhere... Look on www.friargatecoventry.co.uk (http://www.friargatecoventry.co.uk). It doesn't have the tower in it, but is roughly the same...

This is out of date now - there's a newer model out there somewhere... Look on www.friargatecoventry.co.uk (http://www.friargatecoventry.co.uk). It doesn't have the tower in it, but is roughly the same...

i had seen that, but thought it was essentially the same, just on a different scale. you're right, the tower does seem to have gone.

i was reading the friargate brochure recently and it talks of construction starting in the third quarter of 2007. it does seem quite specific about the timescales, so i'm hoping that planning consent is followed by some activity on site pretty quickly. it would be nice to have an extra crane or two on the skyline. really like the look of friargate 1 from the renders we've seen.

Loads of objections to the apartment building in Whitley.

They crack me up - "Whitley Village"??!?!? It's not a bloody village! It's slap bang next to a dual carriageway with a large office complex in it!! Are people there so blinkered they _actually_ believe they are living in the village? What's this with calling areas of cities villages?

They bang on about "Earlsdon Village" - it's the most bloody urban part of Coventry outside the city centre!!! It's got a real urban feel to it, nothing like a village(*)


(*) Yes, I have lived in a real village - without about 20 houses, a pub and nothing else for miles.

looks like the newly formed 'SCORE' could write a letter of support ....

"people power" trying to stop Coventry's population expansion:

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=people-power-rising-to-save-green-belt%26method=full%26objectid=19813301%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

talking of ojections, there is a consultation response on the planning portal concerning friargate 1. the objector believes that the proposed building is 'extremely unsightful', 'far too contemporary', 'will not age well', that the land will be 'overdeveloped' and that it will end up like a 'ghetto´!

honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up.

talking of ojections, there is a consultation response on the planning portal concerning friargate 1. the objector believes that the proposed building is 'extremely unsightful', 'far too contemporary', 'will not age well', that the land will be 'overdeveloped' and that it will end up like a 'ghetto´!

honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up.

Yes, I've seen that. The thing is, you can't object on looks - some people need to read up on what they can object to!

No sign of Friargate starting, though...

Coventry is now filled with cleared sites:

Friars Road
Friargate Building #1
Victoria Buildings
Butts Apartments
Belgrade Plaza
Foleshill Road Depot

With no sign of any activity.:ohno:

Yes, I've seen that. The thing is, you can't object on looks - some people need to read up on what they can object to!

No sign of Friargate starting, though...

Coventry is now filled with cleared sites:

Friars Road
Friargate Building #1
Victoria Buildings
Butts Apartments
Belgrade Plaza
Foleshill Road Depot

With no sign of any activity.:ohno:

not forgetting millenium view - prime city centre land cleared 4 years ago!

Huge new Tesco at Cannon Park shopping centre - includes:

* New Tesco on stilts over car park
* public square/plaza
* revamp to existing mall
* 500 bed student halls of residence.
* 5 new shop units in the mall..

Tescos are taking over!

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=big-turnout-to-see-tesco-plans%26method=full%26objectid=19813266%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

Huge new Tesco at Cannon Park shopping centre - includes:

* New Tesco on stilts over car park
* public square/plaza
* revamp to existing mall
* 500 bed student halls of residence.
* 5 new shop units in the mall..

Tescos are taking over!

http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_headline=big-turnout-to-see-tesco-plans%26method=full%26objectid=19813266%26siteid=50003-name_page.html

Scandalous, who actually goes to Tesco anymore anyway? Most of my mates seem to be defecting back to the less dominant stores, apart from Tesco Express which is usually in quite a convenient location, but theres 1 in Cov lol.

We need some SCORE support for these developments, their economic need, relationship and support to the UDP and of a suitable scale and use for the location.

Scandalous, who actually goes to Tesco anymore anyway? Most of my mates seem to be defecting back to the less dominant stores, apart from Tesco Express which is usually in quite a convenient location, but theres 1 in Cov lol.

We need some SCORE support for these developments, their economic need, relationship and support to the UDP and of a suitable scale and use for the location.

As there's already a TESCO store at Cannon Park (And a very grotty one) this'll be popular in the area, I reckon, especially as it's going to see the existing shopping mall refurbished and more shops added. The student halls won't be popular, but make economic sense. TESCO own the whole shopping mall, so they'll no doubt be looking at Maximum profit. It's a heavily built up area as well - and the University is close by.

I think the UDP classes Cannon Park as a regional centre, so this development prob. fits in.

I don' use Tesco much. They sell a lot of interesting "specialist" ranges, though, but a lot of cheap stuff.

Still, I'd prefer a mixed development - shops, offices, housing, etc. Let's starts creating "places" in Coventry rather than glorified retail parks!

The second City College building now has a tower crane.

thought i would just add these two projects as they dont seem to be here.

friars road
http://i11.tinypic.com/663n23m.jpg

godiva place
http://i2.tinypic.com/6b2lvnd.jpg

thought i would just add these two projects as they dont seem to be here.

friars road
http://i11.tinypic.com/663n23m.jpg

godiva place
http://i2.tinypic.com/6b2lvnd.jpg

Ah, where did you find that rendering? I couldn't find it anywhere, although I did once have a pdf with about 5 others in it!

I don't think Godiva place is happening - student halls of residence instead.

The second City College building now has a tower crane.

Yes, saw that this morning. Didn't think it was big enough for that sort of crane.

Belgrade Plaza has an invisible crane.:lol:

The big freeze!

Sep 20 2007

By Amy Harris

A TOUCH of New York festivities will be coming to Coventry with the arrival of the city's first ever outdoor ice rink this Christmas.
Like in the Big Apple, a temporary rink will be set up in the city during the festive season.
The attraction will be positioned in Millennium Place and will be open for seven weeks - from Saturday November 17 until January 6.
The arrival of the ice rink was announced yesterday by city centre management company CV One and electricity and gas company E.ON, who have sponsored the rink.
They would not reveal how much it costs but stressed it has not been paid for by the taxpayer.

Jon Westley, from CV One, said: "This is not about taking from the people - it's about giving to the people. We have been working on this project for five years.
"Finally Coventry is to have its own world class seasonal ice rink under the landmark Whittle Arches.
"With E.ON's support this is going to be the best Christmas Festival in any city anywhere in the country - it will be like New York!"
He said the sides of the rink would be closed off at night for safety.
E.ON's Nick Sandham said: "We're delighted to work with the city of Coventry to bring this magical attraction to the heart of the country.
"We're a major employer in Coventry with around 1,200 employees here, and we wanted to give something to the people of Coventry and Warwickshire that they will remember for years to come."

As there's already a TESCO store at Cannon Park (And a very grotty one) this'll be popular in the area, I reckon, especially as it's going to see the existing shopping mall refurbished and more shops added. The student halls won't be popular, but make economic sense. TESCO own the whole shopping mall, so they'll no doubt be looking at Maximum profit. It's a heavily built up area as well - and the University is close by.

I think the UDP classes Cannon Park as a regional centre, so this development prob. fits in.

I don' use Tesco much. They sell a lot of interesting "specialist" ranges, though, but a lot of cheap stuff.

Still, I'd prefer a mixed development - shops, offices, housing, etc. Let's starts creating "places" in Coventry rather than glorified retail parks!

A resident of the area did a report for the local bbc radio station about this development and how they were against it. All the people that this person inverviewed were against it. It was a very biased report as you can tell.

Im not a resident of this area and have not seen the plans to comment, but wouldnt this be a good thing for the area?.... Another thing for SCORE to support!

A resident of the area did a report for the local bbc radio station about this development and how they were against it. All the people that this person inverviewed were against it. It was a very biased report as you can tell.

Im not a resident of this area and have not seen the plans to comment, but wouldnt this be a good thing for the area?.... Another thing for SCORE to support!

It would be a good thing. Let's put it this way, we're in Earlsdon, down the road, but the Tesco at Canley is so grotty we prefer to drive all the way across the city to go to the Arena (If we do go to Tesco, which isn't often).

Apparently, there will be an apartment block going up on the site of "Theatre 1" in Hillfields - the CT called it "landmark" but the picture showed was a pretty awful 6 storey affair.

Also Coventry Airport have started their appeal against the refusal of their new terminal.

i wouldnt expect people to live there...right next to the flyover.

On another note, i drove past the new college in the evening and it looked quite nice. I remembered what was there previously and this has improved that area alot.

i wouldnt expect people to live there...right next to the flyover.

On another note, i drove past the new college in the evening and it looked quite nice. I remembered what was there previously and this has improved that area alot.

No, it's not a nice place to live, must be awful having that ringroad so close. I think the fact they are not removing the flyover will have a knock on effect on "Swanswell". I hate those horrible flats they've already built. Cheap, nasty and brutal looking. To think there was once a plan to build a 20 storey building on that site, as well, with two 14 storey towers next to it.

The college building does look good. Far better than what was there! Hopefully it'll inject some life into the area.

The Friargate master plan on the Watermans Enviromental Appraisal appendix looks fantastic, I hope they can make it a reality and gain the required investment.

One huge concern I have looking at the plan, is the traffic routing into the city. Currently, Warwick Road (leading to Greyfriars Roundabout) is very very dense with traffic both ways. The masterplan shows these roads looking like minor sideroads! Especially considering the zebra crossings etc, all looks very much like a rural village. My question is: Does anyone know what the intention for the traffic routing is? It really doesnt seem like they are anticipating the same levels and obviously this would be accounted for when Arup's produce the Traffic Plan.

Also, the scheme leads brilliantly to 'Poundland Alley'/Hertford St in the town, any plans for this area? Do we think that those shops, inc charity ones, will be priced out? I hate the way the alley/street narrows and narrows, then opens up to dark nothingness outside the post office before heading underneath the gruesome building and out to the tent. It would look amazing if they could continue the run of Friargate to a square in the middle of town with the godiva staue proudly on display, with the tent removed, Cathedral Lanes demolished and the roadway going around the back rather than doglegging towards town - one can hope! Perhaps the only thing they could do with Hertford St is renovate and create an undercover, proper, shopping area similar to Lower Precinct?

The Friargate master plan on the Watermans Enviromental Appraisal appendix looks fantastic, I hope they can make it a reality and gain the required investment.

One huge concern I have looking at the plan, is the traffic routing into the city. Currently, Warwick Road (leading to Greyfriars Roundabout) is very very dense with traffic both ways. The masterplan shows these roads looking like minor sideroads! Especially considering the zebra crossings etc, all looks very much like a rural village. My question is: Does anyone know what the intention for the traffic routing is? It really doesnt seem like they are anticipating the same levels and obviously this would be accounted for when Arup's produce the Traffic Plan.

Also, the scheme leads brilliantly to 'Poundland Alley'/Hertford St in the town, any plans for this area? Do we think that those shops, inc charity ones, will be priced out? I hate the way the alley/street narrows and narrows, then opens up to dark nothingness outside the post office before heading underneath the gruesome building and out to the tent. It would look amazing if they could continue the run of Friargate to a square in the middle of town with the godiva staue proudly on display, with the tent removed, Cathedral Lanes demolished and the roadway going around the back rather than doglegging towards town - one can hope! Perhaps the only thing they could do with Hertford St is renovate and create an undercover, proper, shopping area similar to Lower Precinct?

There was a square in town with the Lady godiva statue proudly displayed about 15 years ago - they built Cathedral Lanes on it!

I sort of wish they'd turn Hertford Street back into a normal street - no canopy, no covering, and a varied streetscene of different style buildigns.

One reason Hertford St rises so steeply, with steps by HMV is to create a roadway underneath leading to Barracks car park. If this car park is redeveloped then so could the street.

That is a very good point! The Barracks tunnel has very strange levels the buildings above must have voids and stuff, its like going down a big dipper drop then back up at a different angle and slightly different direction into what must greet so many visitors to Coventry, a service yard!

It really used to have a square there? Problem is now that it could become a hang-out for drunks and drop-outs, though that problem isn't unique to Coventry by any means so I'm certain mitigation meausres could be brought in, such as no access after 9pm etc.

Or maybe I'm in too much of an idealistic world!

What happened to the stupid idea to move the statue behind Primark, thus creating an area of nothingness in front of the tent? Are the nice folks behind the Cathedral lanes behind this idea too??? It may be just me, but that idea surely is flawed with the fact that primark building would shadow the proposed square, and its quite a relatively narrow area for a landmark sq.....or am I missing something?

Friargate proposal - the first ever sensible solution opening up areas beyond a ring road since the Bridge leading from Birmingham Library onto Centinary Sq - works perfecty

It really used to have a square there? Problem is now that it could become a hang-out for drunks and drop-outs, though that problem isn't unique to Coventry by any means so I'm certain mitigation meausres could be brought in, such as no access after 9pm etc.

Or maybe I'm in too much of an idealistic world!

What happened to the stupid idea to move the statue behind Primark, thus creating an area of nothingness in front of the tent? Are the nice folks behind the Cathedral lanes behind this idea too??? It may be just me, but that idea surely is flawed with the fact that primark building would shadow the proposed square, and its quite a relatively narrow area for a landmark sq.....or am I missing something?

Friargate proposal - the first ever sensible solution opening up areas beyond a ring road since the Bridge leading from Birmingham Library onto Centinary Sq - works perfecty

When broadgate was a square, it was always filled with drunks and people complained about it...:nuts: When I started at Uni in 1989, they were tearing it all up to building Cathedral Lanes.

There ALWAYS was a plan to build where Cathedral Lanes was (There are proposals from the 1950s), but what they built was so wrong. They made a huge mistake in not giving the walkway between the Cathedral area and shopping area NO frontages! They knocked down the central library - an Edwardian Red Brick building - and I think a row of temporary shops build after the blitz.

Friargate is brilliant. I really hope it goes ahead. It'll change Coventry hugely. All the other proposals for the ringroad, such as little footbridges, are just turd polishing.

Here's Broadgate pre-1989:

http://i20.tinypic.com/qzlkhv.jpg

To the right is the temporary shops built after the war. Lady Godiva was in the middle.

I think they should have built up on the temporary shops side, but made it more enclosed to it felt more like a square.

Now, of course, it's just nondescript.

so everyone knows, i have started a new thread in the brum forum for discussion about sports in coventry, check it out and share your views, thanks:)

so everyone knows, i have started a new thread in the brum forum for discussion about sports in coventry, check it out and share your views, thanks:)

As I have zero interest in sport, I'll be giving this one a miss. Sorry!:ohno:

As I have zero interest in sport, I'll be giving this one a miss. Sorry!:ohno:

om my Martin, im shocked:lol:

Sport is essential to good health and is a goldmine for a buisiness. Society would crumble without Sports:bash:

I'm gunna have to convert you Martin!:banana:

om my Martin, im shocked:lol:

Sport is essential to good health and is a goldmine for a buisiness. Society would crumble without Sports:bash:

I'm gunna have to convert you Martin!:banana:

Believe me, you have no chance of making me interested in sport - it does nothing for me in the slightest! I'd rather read a book (Or write a book), watch a film, or go for a walk.

Or

:cheers:

Noticed today that the Litten Tree building is under offer. Also, the Job Centre building over the road is now empty. Would be great if that could be knocked down.

Noticed today that the Litten Tree building is under offer. Also, the Job Centre building over the road is now empty. Would be great if that could be knocked down.


They've been advertising the Job centre building as office space in the telegraph...

Noticed today that the Litten Tree building is under offer. Also, the Job Centre building over the road is now empty. Would be great if that could be knocked down.

Is anyone else getting heaps of response notifications late? I received one for this today!!!!!

Sometimes I get about 50 old ones in a day!

some of these developments look awesome. I've also heard from people that coventry university are about to make some big changes on the city centre part of the campus,

i saw a poster saying there's 140 million worth of investment going into the redevelopment. has anyone heard anything?

Hello Coventryboy, welcome to the Coventry discussion! Please join... Some exciting times ahead with the developments and relocations... just ignore us if we moan a bit every now and then.

Here's the "current" Coventry thread and there are others for individual projects under the Brum metro area.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=528656

Apparently, there will be an apartment block going up on the site of "Theatre 1" in Hillfields - the CT called it "landmark" but the picture showed was a pretty awful 6 storey affair.

Also Coventry Airport have started their appeal against the refusal of their new terminal.

I've seen the plans for the Theatre One site and they look awful. Cheap, uniform, box strutures with the 'not so original' protruding triangular bay windows. Horrible.

There is nothing wrong with that building apart from the exterior paint colour and the modern roof sign which sports the 'Mustard Nightclub' logo. It could be restored without spending a fortune and converted easily into apartments/offices/uni use. Look at how they reused the old Odeon building.

What is left of old Victorian Hillfields should be treated with respect - and this building is a classic example. I'm all for clearing areas and building modern structures to replace them where it is warranted - but the old Theatre One site (and the new plans to replace it) should be left well alone. There are other areas of the city centre that need developing (or redeveloping) a whole lot more.

some of these developments look awesome. I've also heard from people that coventry university are about to make some big changes on the city centre part of the campus,

i saw a poster saying there's 140 million worth of investment going into the redevelopment. has anyone heard anything?

This is the second time recently I've read on this forum about proposals for the Cov Uni 'campus' area to be developed -can anyone give me more info? Have any plans been produced or applications lodged? Or is this just a case of the Uni Chancellor having stated that there are plans to expand the uni (probably just around the time of new student inductions, the synical side of me says!...)

I've seen the plans for the Theatre One site and they look awful. Cheap, uniform, box strutures with the 'not so original' protruding triangular bay windows. Horrible.



Yeah, they're going to replace a cheap, uniform box structure without windows with a cheap uniform box structure with bay windows.


There is nothing wrong with that building apart from the exterior paint colour and the modern roof sign which sports the 'Mustard Nightclub' logo. It could be restored without spending a fortune and converted easily into apartments/offices/uni use. Look at how they reused the old Odeon building.


How do you know it could be restored easily? It was a cinema; its internals probably need stripping out and replacing. You can't just wave a magic wand and turn it into an "office"! (Who would want an office down there? It's got no parking and is a shithole). You have to be realistic about these things.


What is left of old Victorian Hillfields should be treated with respect - and this building is a classic example. I'm all for clearing areas and building modern structures to replace them where it is warranted - but the old Theatre One site (and the new plans to replace it) should be left well alone. There are other areas of the city centre that need developing (or redeveloping) a whole lot more.

You sound like you've been listening to the Coventry Society too much. Who is going to PAY to restore this manky old building? It's got no architectural merit, it's probably Edwardian and not Victorian, and doesn't even have any windows! Most of Victorian Hillfields was demolished years ago - there's virtually nothing left, and it was all mainly cheap factory housing.

The Coventry Society are in their own little world - they bang on about restoring and reusing stuff like theatre one ("For community use!") as if there's some sort of "magic restoring" pixie going to pop up and do it for them. If I'd spent 450,000K on that patch of land I wouldn't want waste anymore trying to convert a cheap looking Edwardian building into offices (?!?!?!) or apartments. I'd flatten it and do a new build!!!! I certainly wouldn't happily hand it over for "community" use!!! And given its location, a student hall of residence is about all it's fit for.

Keeping stuff because it's old is no justification for keeping it. The Odeon had been looked after over the years and I believe that a lot of it had been rebuilt behind the facade (Which is the only listed bit) - theatre one had been fleapit cinema and left empty for years in between acting as a downmarket nightclub. You have to be realistic about re-using old buildings, especially one in such a poor location.

Unfortunately the Coventry Society seem to have a mentality that anything pre-war is good and must be kept regardless. This isn't always the case, especially in Coventry, which has never been noted for its Victorian Architecture!

some of these developments look awesome. I've also heard from people that coventry university are about to make some big changes on the city centre part of the campus,

i saw a poster saying there's 140 million worth of investment going into the redevelopment. has anyone heard anything?

Nah, not heard anything, but it's about time!

There was a square in town with the Lady godiva statue proudly displayed about 15 years ago - they built Cathedral Lanes on it!

I sort of wish they'd turn Hertford Street back into a normal street - no canopy, no covering, and a varied streetscene of different style buildigns.

Agree - I'd give Hertford Street the same treatment as I'd give the Burges.... retain the Victorian / pre war buildings and entirely remove the post war monstosities.

Hertford Street should not be covered at all - it spoils what I imagine would be a magnificent view of the spires as you walk up Hertford Street from Warwick Row. It should all be open plan and the old street/urban grid structure should be reinstated. There could be a nice square installed in the area next to the old Index (formerly Habitat) store - this way it would allow for a nice view of the medieval Fords Hospital building.

Agree - I'd give Hertford Street the same treatment as I'd give the Burges.... retain the Victorian / pre war buildings and entirely remove the post war monstosities.

Hertford Street should not be covered at all - it spoils what I imagine would be a magnificent view of the spires as you walk up Hertford Street from Warwick Row. It should all be open plan and the old street/urban grid structure should be reinstated. There could be a nice square installed in the area next to the old Index (formerly Habitat) store - this way it would allow for a nice view of the medieval Fords Hospital building.

Habitat. Now there's a store that I'd like to see in Cov.

any one think this need updating so every things in one place.

any one think this need updating so every things in one place.

This thread is kinda dead now, especially since theres a Official Coventry Thread on the sticky bit... dont seem worth updating this