COVENTRY commerce chiefs have said the city is at a ‘critical point’ in defining its future, but warned it was vitally important to get the planning right.
Corin Crane, the chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, was speaking to a gathering of businesses at the Chamber’s city branch meeting at the Albany Theatre.
A report published by the Chamber in June claimed Coventry’s economic growth is under threat due to a lack of employment land.
Coventry City Council is currently consulting on the latest iteration of its Local Plan which will set the basis for planning decisions from mid-2025 onwards.
And after hearing from Rob Back, who is the authority’s Strategic Planning Lead on the city’s Local Plan, Mr Crane said there was huge growth potential.
He added: “There are big decisions to be made around new housing and new employment land and how all of that fits together with other infrastructure and services.
“It’s important to remember growth isn’t about making businesses richer, it is to create jobs, opportunities and investment into the communities of the city.
“I know for a fact that there is massive interest in Coventry from companies that want to invest here.
“We’re in a very strong position from that point of view and we need to do everything we can to get them here in the coming months and years.”
Mr Back added the City Council was particularly keen to hear from landowners and agents on potential development sites for either homes or employment.
