COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Liam Byrne, candidate for Mayor of the West Midlands, said the city was ahead of others with 40 per cent of the centre being redesigned



Coventry city centre will soon be a destination for people from "all over the world" in the coming years.

This is the view of the man wanting to become the next West Midlands Mayor, who says the changes already taking place in Coventry are "frankly breathtaking".

Liam Byrne this week met with the team behind the Coventry City Centre South development which is transforming a 15-acre site which includes Bull Yard, Shelton Square, Market Way, City Arcade and Hertford Street.

Development plans, submitted by Shearer Property Group, feature what is described as “a public realm and accessible events space” as well as retail, leisure, residential elements and a hotel.

While those plans are moving forward, the Covid pandemic has hit other parts of the city centre, including losing our flagship Debenhams store from the West Orchards shopping centre after the much-loved firm fell in to administration.

So what does Mr Byrne believe the future holds for Coventry and its high street after the pandemic allows it to reopen?

"Coventry has a unique opportunity ahead because of the Coventry City Centre South proposal. That is pretty much the only place in the country where 40 per cent of the city centre is actually being remodelled and redesigned," he said at the virtual launch of his campaign to become the next West Midlands Mayor.

"(Other) models of a pure retail city centre, they're just not going to work in the future. What investors want is a place where it's much easier for them to go zero net carbon, so we have talked about how we incorporate that in to those (Coventry) plans. Ideas for renewable energy for example, as well as just creating the space for markets and festivals, you know the fun stuff in life that brings us together.

"We are phenomenally excited about the possibility of City Centre South and hats off to Jim O'Boyle and the team at Coventry Labour because the ambition they've got to re-imagine the way that city centres could work in the future is frankly breathtaking and it's going to be a place that draws people in from all over the world."

Green light for huge £390m homes, shops and restaurant scheme in Coventry City Centre South



A major homes, shops and restaurants scheme in Coventry – dubbed the “missing part of our city’s rebirth and regeneration” – has been unanimously approved.

Shearer Property Group’s vision for ‘City Centre South’ was given the green light by councillors on Coventry’s planning committee on Thursday, April 22.

Outline approval for the long-drawn-out scheme has been given for up to 1,300 homes, up to 150 hotel rooms, a cinema, restaurants and commercial space.

Plans were initially approved in 2012, with an ‘anchor department store’ at the heart of the 6.36 hectare plot, but it has been massively delayed, with challenges in retail leading to a more residential focus.

“Clearly City Centre South has been on the starting blocks for over 10 years,” cabinet member for jobs and regeneration Cllr Jim O’Boyle said.

“Now’s the time to really set the gun, press the on button and get on with this.

“This application will be transformational. It will take our city from the 20th century to the 21st century and makes our city fit for the future while building and reflecting on our great heritage and past.”

One big criticism of the scheme was the provision of no affordable housing. Under council policy, 325 affordable homes should have been included.

Trevor Cornfoot, a member of the Coventry Society, slammed it as a failure which “flies in the face” of the £98.8m public investment the scheme has received from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

A financial viability assessment also concluded the plan is “technically unviable” as the £390m cost to develop it is more than the £297m estimated value after completion.

Full permission was approved for works to remove the bridge link between the Grade II-listed Coventry Market rooftop car park and existing retail units on Market Way, as well as the relocation of the of Grade-II listed William Mitchell mural from the former Three Tuns Pub – issues which led to objections from the 20th Century Society and Ancient Monuments Society.

Planning officer Liam D’Onofrio admitted there would be substantial harm to the mural but that “substantial public benefits” outweigh the harm.

Outline permission was approved to demolish buildings within the site area including the “eyesore” Barracks Way and City Arcade multi-storey car parks, allowing the new plans to go forward.

Further viability tests will be carried out as reserved matters applications come forward, which will provide detailed design plans.