Developer says derelict underground loos have "masses of potential"

Alan Denyer, the man behind the pop-up at the former Telegraph offices, says they would make excellent arts spaces



A leading Coventry developer has called on the council to show some imagination - and open up the city centre's long lost loos as a creative space.

The man behind the successful pop-up at the former Coventry Evening Telegraph building sees a future for the toilets, located a few feet under the Upper Precinct.

Sealed shut since 1999, the toilets have been abandoned and forgotten about, but Alan Denyer believes that with a bit of TLC, it could help make Coventry a major cultural destination.

Sadly, it appears as though it will be a race against the clock to realise the potential of the loos, with plans in place to fill them with concrete later this year.

"I think there is masses of potential there. The area has massive footfall. When I hear about an interesting space I think about what can be done with it.

"It's quite a dark space, I think projection exhibits would work well.

"There's two toilets, so a ladies and gents theme could work.

"I don't buy all this rubbish about damp. I'd like the council to give the challenge to someone like me."

Unfortunately, it appears as though the days are numbered for the underground loos.

Though no date has been finalised, the council has revealed plans to fill the toilets with concrete, consigning them to history for good.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration said: “The toilets in Upper Precinct were closed because the roof slab failed.

"The underground area was recently inspected to see if the space could be used for anything else but the cost of making the area safe and accessible means the decision has been made to fill the area in.

"This will mean that the barriers can be removed above ground – helping to open up Upper Precinct once again.”

I fail to see how staging a few promotions in derelict buildings makes someone a 'leading developer'?

The city centre is bereft of toilets, CCC should spend the money and bring them up to standard for reuse.

I agree Rebbink they should re open them again I missed them when they closed having young children at the time they could nt hold them selves long enough to get to the market prior to Cathedral lanes being built now I hear they to have gone truth be known like Bedworth toilets they to have been closed in order to save money with the same excuse Perhaps they think we are robots .

If the developer is part of the Coventry City council he can say any thing as like most that work there.