Medieval Far Gosford Street - Coventry - Proposed Masterplan

[stig1982]

Can't wait to see these buildings with the scaffolding off!

[stig1982]

And there is more good news for Far Gosford Street...

A planning application has been submitted for redevelopment of the Industrial Estate, to make it into a creative village / market.

Plans include the following:-

- refurbishment and reuse of the industrial buildings
- new improved entrance on Grafton Street with modern design/make units fronting the street
- narrowing of the entrance to the Industrial Estate off Far Gosford Street to recreate the street pattern and build the area up a bit more. Designs include replica style 'top shop' buildings with modern shop fronts
- construction of a series of small workshop units

Brilliant!

[stig1982]

Apologies, I've posted this link on another thread but I thought it would have more relevance in this thread (given that this Far Gosford Street thread is all about heritage led regeneration):

Petition to save Copsewood Grange:-

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/copsewood/

[Dr Pepper]

[Dr Pepper]

[Fernando Partridge]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

Not a particularly nice finish. Looks like it belongs in Tile Hill / Canley / Henley Green with the other 50s built council maisonettes.

[NewTroll]

I agree. It looks pretty awful.

[We-Are-Borg-1987]

Yes, you have to wonder why they restore nice old buildings and then allow that building to be that grey colour! I hope they paint it. Could have done with larger windows- the interior must be pretty dark.

[stig1982]

I wonder if the building has deliberately been left unpainted to enable the end user to apply its commercial colours?

I like the film strip style floor numbering they have applied. Very relevant given the site's history.

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by We-Are-Borg-1987

Could have done with larger windows- the interior must be pretty dark.

The blueprints for the building, from memory, show it as largely open plan with open roof space at upper level. There are roof windows so I imagine the upper floor will actually be quite light and airy. And I would say there are certainly enough windows at ground level to allow plenty of light in to the space.

I certainly would't mind working there!

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

They sure are taking their time here. Good to see though. Quality not quantity, and all that.

Would be good if it is open in time for this year's Heritage Open Days (like the restored timber framed buildings by the Hand and Heart were a couple of years ago).

[We-Are-Borg-1987]

Perhaps the student accomadation at the top of FGS will help sustain businesses around there for the long-term. Given its out-the-way location it really needs to make an effort to pull people in.

[NewTroll]

There was an article recently about a shop owner on FGS who wants to close down his clothes shop and turn it into a fast food takeaway - he says that's what people in the area want.

[CovAD]

Originally Posted by Fernando Partridge

Not a particularly nice finish. Looks like it belongs in Tile Hill / Canley / Henley Green with the other 50s built council maisonettes.

I agree entirely - not nice at all.

[We-Are-Borg-1987]

Whilst it may be difficult to 'buck the market' surely the council should be restricting the number of takeaways! To spend alot of money restoring an area and then to have it covered in wave after wave of rubbish from various takeaways isn't good!

[Typhoon2000]

Originally Posted by We-Are-Borg-1987

Whilst it may be difficult to 'buck the market' surely the council should be restricting the number of takeaways! To spend alot of money restoring an area and then to have it covered in wave after wave of rubbish from various takeaways isn't good!

Needs to be a cool place for students to hang out for meeting up. I was impressed with how Narborough Road has turned out in Leicester - used to be a nasty place to hang out but a few decent bars and some alternative type fast food places (one caters for veggies only), and effort spent to tidy up the street and its buildings, its actually become the more desirable part of the city. De Monfort Uni is only a ten minute walk away over the river.

FGS has the potential to become a busy Selly Oak to breathe new life into the place. It has potential..

[morestoreysplease]

I agree - needs some new age shops, cafes and little bars. How's the hotel planning permission coming on?

[We-Are-Borg-1987]

Yes, I was there last night and with the amount of students wandering around I reckon they could try opening a few innovative business's down there to broaden its appeal beyond just takeaways. FGS needs to sustain its regeneration.

I don't know the latest on the planning app I'm afraid.

[NewTroll]

FGS used to be a very popular street when I was a student in the 1990s. It had some great second hand stores, and a record store, plus about 5 pubs. Going back further, it had a music venue. There is also the music shops at the top where I used to get my guitar stuff from! I don't know what's there now, but when I lived in Stoke it had become a very unpleasant street with virtually all the pubs and old shops gone, and fast food joints rife, and gangs of "chavs" hanging around outside the off-license there... We used to walk down Skyblue Way in the evenings to avoid it. The Beer Engine used to be a rockers pub, I can remember the bikes lined up outside it, the Hand and Heart was a friendly Irish local with a student friendly smoking room, and the Hertford Arms was an Irish pub.. Can't recall if I ever went into the Gosford Arms.

I think the street started a slow decline when it was bypassed by Skyblue Way in the late 1980s. The local area is not the sort of place where new age shops and "smart" bars will survive when the students have gone. CDP are on the right track with their plans to bring in businesses and also improve the way it all links with Skyblue Way.

Scholars opened up while I was a student.

There's a decent old school building round the corner which could be used for something as well.

[Dr Pepper]