Coventry's 'lost' river 'could be worth £1.5bn if restored'

[dutchman]

£2million plan to showcase River Sherbourne in city centre edges closer

A £2million plan to radically transform The Burges has moved a step closer to becoming a reality after an initial £172,000 of funding was secured.

The support will allow an underground section of the River Sherbourne to be opened up and a new square with restaurants and cafes to be created. There are also plans to improve the frontages of the historic buildings on the street.

Coventry City Council has secured the initial funding via a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Townscape Heritage grant and that will support the council’s bid for a full £1.9m grant later this year.

Coun Kevin Maton, the council’s cabinet member for business, said: “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us their support for this project, which will help us continue the ongoing regeneration work taking place throughout Coventry.

“The site has been vacant and under-developed for many years now but these plans – aided by HLF Townscape Heritage grant funding - will enable us to completely transform this area and will complement the work at the nearby transport museum and grammar school.

“Opening up part of the river will allow us to create a new vibrant public space with cafés and restaurants which will draw greater numbers of local people and visitors into the city centre.

“Revitalising historic buildings and areas to bring economic benefit to the city is extremely important and this grant will allow us to do just that at The Burges.”

Coventry council worked with Historic Coventry Trust to submit the application for Townscape Heritage funding.

The grant has previously been awarded on two occasions for Far Gosford Street and has been instrumental in that area’s regeneration. The same team will be delivering The Burges project.

Ian Harrabin, managing director of CDP and chairman of Historic Coventry Trust said: “I have been working with the council to try to get the regeneration of this area going for the past decade and this is a huge step forwards.

“It is no coincidence that the partnership has secured the funding following the success at Far Gosford Street and we hope to do even better here.

“The Burges is one of the most historic parts of the city and is very important to the City of Culture bid. The continued involvement of the trust will ensure that the change is permanent.”

[dutchman]

New riverside Coventry business park could create more than 400 jobs



More than 400 jobs could be created at a new £20million eco-friendly riverside business park in Coventry.

Complex Development Projects (CDP), the company behind Electric Wharf, Fargo Village and the regeneration of Far Gosford Street, has unveiled plans to create the new office park along the River Sherbourne as part of a plan to create a new heritage trail in the city.

The development of 100,000 sq ft of environmentally-friendly office buildings will be aimed at companies in the technology and creative sectors.

The project is part of plans by Historic Coventry Trust to create a 70-acre heritage park centred on the restoration of the 14th Century Charterhouse and which will highlight other historic structures along London Road like the Joseph Paxton-designed arboretum cemetery and the viaduct designed by Robert Stephenson.

The development will provide a riverside walk from the city centre to the heritage park.

Plans for the business park development, which would stretch along the river from Far Gosford Street to Charterhouse, are at an early stage but are being showcased today at the MIPIM property conference and exhibition in France.

[Melisandre]

Exactly shows we have people with plans that does nt know our city.
They had far nicer plans back in history better than today with exposing the water perhaps they should open it all up and knock those high buildings down.

[Melisandre]

don't understand why some people in this city are so negative about everything.

Our city was of historic history which a vast majority has been knocked down replaced by ugly tower blocks by the score empowering a small town designed by people who do not live here and have to look at it every day or week it is nt even planned properly its just knock some thing down and replace it in the same place with an eye sore
instead of being sympathetic to the history which now has left no attraction to this city what so ever I am suprised Spon Street has nt gone or the Cathedral and motor museum who ever allowed the planned area around Spon Street should be sent back in time to Whitley common. As for your university's here I dont see Oxford Cambridge digging up their garden s (greenery) making it a concrete jungle or knocking down their history .

[dutchman]

Waterside café quarter development gets funding setback



A development that would have transformed one of the city's most run-down streets has suffered a setback.

A bid for a grant of nearly £2million that would have helped fund a huge waterside cafe quarter around the Burges has been rejected.

The multi-million pound project would have been completed in the same style as Far Gosford Street and bring in improvements to attract tourists, shoppers and new businesses.

An application for Stage Two funding of £1.8m was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which would help towards the full cost of the £25m scheme.

But the application has been rejected.

Councillor Jim O'Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, is hoping that more funding will be made available.

He also told CoventryLive that the project isn't in jeopardy - it would simply be delayed.

[dutchman]

Work to start on £25million restoration in eyesore Coventry street



One of Coventry's last surviving pre-war streets is to get £2million towards a major facelift.

Plans for the Burges include restoring old buildings and installing shop fronts that are more sympathetic to the architecture.

And as we reported last month, the plans also include opening up the River Sherbourne behind the Burges as a new public square.

The money has been put forward by the government - and comes just six months after a £1.8million bid for Lottery funding towards the full £25million cost of the scheme was rejected.

The £25million price tag includes the construction of Millennium View, which has already been completed.

Once a salubrious shopping district in the 1900s and a vibrant thoroughfare, the Burges survived the Blitz but is now widely regarded as one of Coventry's most run-down streets.

It is seen as an ideal choice for restoration and regeneration as it is one of the city centre’s last surviving pre-war streets, with features that can be traced back to medieval times and a number of listed buildings.

It is hoped the project will help attract tourists who are visiting the neighbouring Transport Museum and Old Grammar School.

[rebbonk]

...will help attract tourists who are visiting the neighbouring ...

Closing the Priory centre, charging for the motor museum... Doesn't sound like a thought through strategy to me

[Melisandre]

...will help attract tourists who are visiting the neighbouring ...

Closing the Priory centre, charging for the motor museum... Doesn't sound like a thought through strategy to me

Have they ever had a strategy for any thing?

[dutchman]

New images reveal how two of Coventry city centre's oldest streets will be transformed



Images have been released showing just how two of Coventry’s oldest city centre streets will be transformed.

A £2m transformation of the historic fronts of the buildings and shops on the Burges and Hales Street is underway.

It is hoped the project will help revive the city and support business recovery after the coronavirus lockdown.

Scaffolding is in place and behind it local specialist craftspeople Heron Consultants and conservation architects at Corstorphine + Wright are hard at work.

The project has been made possible thanks to a major grant from the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) to the Historic Coventry Trust (HCT) .

It forms part of a £95m High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme, led by Historic England.

Work started on site in February after HCT spent eight months working with the independent businesses and planning the scheme.

The project is in partnership with Coventry City Council and Coventry BID and is part of the wider work to get the city ready to host UK City of Culture.

The plans also involve opening up the River Sherbourne on Palmer Lane as a new public square, turning the river into an asset for residents and visitors.

[dutchman]

First look at plans to redevelop city centre riverside - with new café or restaurant



Fresh images have been revealed showing how the hidden River Sherbourne in Coventry city centre could be uncovered to create a riverside quarter.

The scheme on Palmer Lane has been mooted for a number of years and was initially hoped to be ready for the City of Culture when plans were first unveiled in 2018.

However new plans have now been submitted to the council which would create a public space with steps leading down to the uncovered river, green landscaping, lighting and art.

The £1.9 million scheme would sit next to separate plans to transform the former Illingworth building into a canalside cafe/bar – although an application for to convert the building is still to be submitted.

The project is a partnership between Coventry City Council and Historic Coventry Trust and forms part of the wider High Street Heritage Action Zone, which has already seen £2m from Historic England pumped in to regenerate the Burges and Hales Street.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic scheme which will give new life to an area of the city centre that really needs it.

“Local people have long hoped that we would be able to open up the river in the city centre and we’ve been working hard to make this happen.

“The plans to reveal more of the river whilst creating a unique public space that people want to visit will really make a difference to both residents and visitors to the city. We want to celebrate this historic part of the city while bringing something fresh and exciting.”

Carol Pyrah, Executive Director of Historic Coventry Trust, added: “The River Sherbourne has a special place in the hearts and imagination of Coventry people and this scheme is an opportunity to experience the river right in the heart of the city. Palmer Lane is a forgotten backland which we want to bring back to life."

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