COVENTRY’S Cathedral Quarter is set to receive a £2 million redevelopment as part of the next phase of city centre improvements.
Greyfriars Lane (alongside Natwest Bank) and Pepper Lane (to the rear of Cathedral Lanes), will be transformed into a vibrant walkway leading to the Cathedral Quarter, with wider pavements, street lighting, new planting and the restoration of public art.
The iconic Coventry Cross could be moved back to its original position in Cross Cheaping to open up more outdoor space overlooking the Cathedral and proposed restaurants at the rear of Cathedral Lanes would provide more outdoor seating at ground and first floor level.
Pavements will be widened and trees planted in Fairfax Street and the well-known black horse statue ‘Trigger’ and the 1960s ‘Family’ sculpture will be brought back into use.
The improvements are part of a larger programme of works to improve the city centre using £2 million of funding from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Local Growth Deal.
Councillor Jayne Innes, cabinet Member for city services, said: “This work will provide an attractive route to one of our city’s most-loved attractions and will expand the café culture we already have in Broadgate and Cathedral Lanes.
“The designs include the same type of high quality materials we have used in Broadgate and High Street and we hope to start work at the beginning of October.”
Cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, Coun Jim O’Boyle, added: “By creating a more attractive route to the Cathedral Quarter and opening up the space where the Coventry Cross currently is will encourage more development in this historic area.
“I would hope the planned works will also encourage people to sit out at businesses next to Priory Place at the foot of the historic ‘Hill Top’, which is also an important gateway to the Cathedral and nearby Transport Museum.”
During the works in Greyfriars Lane the taxi rank will be relocated to Pepper Lane and moved back to Greyfriars Lane as work progresses.
The work is due to start in early October and take around 20 weeks, with businesses remaining open as usual and access maintained at all times.
The improvements on Fairfax Street will take place next summer to tie in with other planned works in the area.
Visit www.coventry.gov.uk/yourcity for more details of works taking place in Coventry.
