Corporation Street Co-Op building put up for sale...

[dutchman]

Council blocks plans to knock down former Co-Op store by 'locally listing' the site

Coventry council has succeeded in blocking plans to knock down one of the city centre’s best-loved buildings.

Members of the planning committee have authorised the 'local listing' of the former Co-op store, in Corporation Street, which closed in October last year.

While local listing doesn’t give properties as much protection as a fully listed building, it still makes it difficult for developers to level a building.

Coventry City Council explained the move was to ensure only ‘high quality’ buildings are built near Belgrade Plaza and medieval Spon Street.

A spokesman said: “We understand productive discussions are still taking place between the Co-op and developers for an exciting scheme for the site.

“Meanwhile a third party has approached asking for pre-planning advice and have suggested they could demolish the building and build a 12-storey high building for student accommodation.

“We’ve therefore proposed that we locally list the building which will ensure any future proposals are of the highest quality and right for this part of the city centre.”

In their application, the council said the 1950s building should be protected because:

• It is one of the major buildings of Coventry city centre’s post-war reconstruction
  
• It follows the Scandinavian architectural style, proportions and materials prescribed by Donald Gibson’s City Architects Department and contributes to the distinctive uniform style of post-war Coventry
  
• It is a little altered example of a 1950s’ department store and still retains its original shopfront, upper floor windows and parapet signage
  
• The pillars of the colonnade are decorated with inscribed designs by John Skelton, who is a significant artist and letter-carver, and are important examples of the City’s desire to incorporate public art and architecture.

Site owners EDG told the Telegraph the move was unnecessary as it has no plans to demolish the building and is still committed to the vision of transforming the existing structure as first reported by the Telegraph in October 2015.

EDG’s property director Neil Edginton said he hoped the firm could reveal more details by the autumn and that work could start at the site by the middle of 2017.

[dutchman]

Developers could pay just £1 to lease the former Co-op building in Coventry city centre for 250 years.



Council bosses are proposing to grant a 250 year lease on the former department store and a neighbouring building in Corporation Street to EDG Property for a peppercorn rent of £1.

Bosses at the Birmingham based development company plan shops, a restaurant, offices and 67 flats.

The flats would be sold or rented on the open market rather than being designed for students.

Currently there are 41 years to run on the leases for both buildings. The council is getting a total of £4,800 a year for the two leases.

A report to be considered at a Coventry City Council on Wednesday November 23 says the developers won’t be able to afford to pay any rent though.

That’s because the cost of the development, and the value of leasehold apartments in the city centre , means their profit margins are “substantially lower than would normally be expected for the risks being taken”.

But the report says in exchange for giving up the rent an architecturally important building will be have a new use and be preserved for future generations.

The former Co-op department store has been empty since it closed 12 months ago.

Coun Jim O’Boyle (Lab, St Michaels), cabinet member for jobs and regeneration: “We don’t want to leave it standing empty for years and years and we already have lots of empty buildings in the city.

“People have fond memories of shopping at the department store.

“It will attract a lot of business rates and council tax of up to £96,000 but at the moment we are getting nothing for it.”

EDG Property is behind iconic Birmingham developments The Mailbox and The Cube.

Co-op bosses blamed the rise in online shopping as one of the main reasons for the department store’s closure last year.

In August it was locally listed by Coventry City Council because of its historic value as an example of post war development in the city.

Being locally listed doesn’t prevent demolition or alteration but any proposals have to be weighed against the historic value.

EDG bosses have not yet put in a planning application for the development.

[rebbonk]

It will attract a lot of business rates and council tax...

I will believe that when it happens.

[dutchman]

First look at how new Co-op building in Coventry city centre could look



Developers have released a picture of what the former Co-op building will look like if they get the go-ahead to transform the historic building.

At ground level where the groceries, Post Office and electrical goods used to be the picture shows cosmopolitan cafes and restaurants.

Above, where furniture used to be sold, the picture shows the planned flats from the outside.

The picture was created by EDG Property, a Birmingham based company.

The company will lease former department store and neighbouring Hawkins Building from owners Coventry City Council for 250 years for just £1.

The plan is for a mix of shops, eateries and flats.

The building in Corporation Street has been standing empty for more than a year.

Coun Jim O’Boyle (Lab, St Michaels), Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration said, “Corporation Street has felt a bit forgotten recently – but this plan to convert part of the Co-op to apartments and cafes and restaurants will really breathe new life this part of the city centre.

“It’s an impressive building and I’m delighted with this plan for it.”

Coun Jim O’Boyle said, “Corporation Street has felt a bit forgotten recently – but this plan to convert part of the Co-op to apartments and cafes and restaurants will really breathe new life this part of the city centre."

He should go on stage, he really should!

[rebbonk]

I wonder how this property group is going to fund this transformation? Their balance sheets don't look very strong...

[dutchman]

Revealed: The £15million high-spec apartments project that will transform Coventry's old Co-op building



Images have been revealed for the first time which show the planned transformation of the former Co-op site in Coventry city centre.

Blueprints for the new £15million project show part of the building will be removed to make room for the creation of an indoor park.

The scheme will also include leisure, retail and the highest-specification, private sale apartments the city centre has seen.

EDG Property, the company behind the multi-million pound Corporation Street development, said it wants to retain and be true to the mid-century 1950s architecture.

They are even going as far as calling the scheme, The Co-operative and using the existing 1950s lettering on the building frontage.

A key element of the development will be creating some green space within the plans.

One section of the building will be removed and will create a covered private residential city centre park, and a members’ club will also be added to the top floor for residents.

Neil Edginton, Managing Director of EDG Property, is part of the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership attending the world’s largest commercial property show, where the company will showcase the bold plans that have been submitted to Coventry City Council’s planning department.

He said The Co-operative will help Coventry take the next steps in its ambitious city centre development plans.

“We are genuinely excited about this scheme,” said Neil, whose company is behind developments such as The Cube and The School Yard in Birmingham. “We love the original architecture and want to draw that out and make it a feature of the overall development.

“We have successfully negotiated being able to use The Co-operative as the name of the development and retaining the lettering. We will be keeping the façade and making the most of the large glass panels.

“The overall project is around 140,000 sq ft and will include office, retail, leisure and residential and will be truly mixed-used.

“It will be something very different for Coventry and will take city centre living to a new level.

“The park will be a unique feature for the exclusive use of residents, which will give those people access to a tranquil green space in the heart of the bustling city. That, along with the private residents club, will help to set The Co-operative apart.

“We have submitted a planning application for The Co-operative and will be taking the proposed scheme to MIPIM with the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership. It’s our intention to move forward with the development as soon as possible as we truly believe the time is right for this kind of scheme in Coventry.

“When you look at what’s happening in and around that area of the city centre, I believe it will be a great place to live and enjoy – and we are really keen to be part of the city’s rejuvenation.”

[Melisandre]

High maintance then this so called park trimming of hedging leaf fall cutting of grass for low maintainance in an area that size also a relaxation area more fit they went Japanese style garden using Hebes ball shaped then moss or Camomile instead of grass unless the grass is fake then using cloud trees or certain fir trees which dont drop leaves

[dutchman]

Coventry shop basement could become 24-bed hotel despite window concerns



An empty shop basement in Coventry could become a 24-room hotel. Plans to turn part of the Co-op Building at 18 Corporation Street into a short stay holiday let have been lodged.

If approved, the site's "large" basement floor would be converted into 24 studio rooms with "ensuite and kitchenette," plans said. This floor would also get other facilities like a breakfast room and laundry room.

The ground floor would be used as a reception, a statement added. The hotel would be aimed at people staying in the city for business or leisure city breaks.

It would be managed by a specialist company with 24-hour access arrangements. People would be able to stay at the hotel for a maximum 28 days, plans said.

The corner unit where the hotel would be based has been empty for 2 years, the statement added. It admitted that the new hotel's layout would include internal rooms without windows, which is "far from ideal."

But it also stressed that the hotel would not be permanent housing requiring "higher levels of amenity" and said other budget hotels have the same situation. A planning application stated the move involves converting the shop into an Apart Hotel.

Coventry council has not yet decided on the scheme. Plans can be viewed on the council's planning portal via reference: PL/2024/0001368/FUL.