NEW details have been revealed for Coventry’s long-touted £450million city centre south project with a reserved matters application finally lodged for the first of two phases of the scheme.
But the plans have split opinion, with some pleased about the project’s commitment to preserving Coventry’s art and heritage while others believing it was ‘heartbreaking’ so much of the city’s history could be lost.
Development partners, The Hill Group and Shearer Property Group have submitted the application, which would see 991 new homes built in phase one, 200 of which would be affordable.
There would also be 8,000sqm of new commercial space, all set within 17,000 sqm of public open space.
Phase two would see more commercial space and up to 584 more homes.
The buildings would be set around a series of squares, landscaped areas, communal gardens and a children’s play space.
The mixed-use development received outline planning consent in January 2022 but has faced recent schedule setbacks.
Its latest delay came in October following government changes to building regulations, meaning some of the buildings will need an extra stairwell.
Subject to planning permission, work on site is finally expected to start next summer with the first homes delivered by the end of 2026.
Developers have also committed to preserving the area’s cultural heritage.
Its public art strategy will include installing to-scale replicas of the History of Coventry mural and fibreglass panels by world-renowned artist William Mitchell.
There will also be a new Three Tuns pavilion building opposite Coventry Retail Market and existing artwork will be relocated to public locations across the development.
The proposals will provide new car-free access routes connecting Market Way, Herford Street and Rover Way to the new Cultural Gateway Centre and Coventry Very Light Rail project on Greyfriars Road and Queen Victoria Road.
Coventry Society member Aaron Law, who has been dealing with developers for over a year working on the public art strategy, said he was pleased with the plans.
Several Coventrians have taken to social media to oppose the plans.
Gwenn Clark said: “Why waste all that money on ripping down areas that already have homes for people?
“Yes, of course, people need homes to rent but there must be some better sites to use.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the Council want to lose all this history.”
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