PLANNING permission has been granted for the ground, first and second floors of Coventry’s new city centre cultural gateway, with work scheduled to start later this year.
The work will see the former IKEA building repurposed into a new cultural home for nationally recognised collections, with space also included for new research facilities.
The first phase of the work will see part of the building transformed to become a ‘collections centre of national significance’.
Cultural groups such as CV Life, Arts Council England, Arts Council Collection and the British Council will house their collections in this part of the building.
Coventry University will take over floors five and six to create a cultural hub which will include teaching areas, research space and attractions.
And phase three will see the internal car park floors enclosed and future-proofed to allow feasibility work to be conducted to explore other uses for the newly created space.
The city council’s cabinet member for housing and communities, Coun David Welsh said the planning permission was a ‘significant milestone in a visionary project.’
“This cultural gateway will provide a dynamic and inclusive cultural hub for our city, and we are fortunate to be working with fantastic partners to make this happen.
“Not only will it elevate Coventry’s cultural landscape, but it will also reinforce our city’s position as a vibrant cultural destination.”
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