City centre transformed: Coventry architect wants to banish post-war 'concrete hangover'

[dutchman]

Developer says his proposals are a viable alternative to student accommodation and could benefit taxpayers


Greyfriars Lane looking towards High Street

Alan Denyer, of AWD Restorations, believes his idea would be a viable alternative to the current trend of filling up derelict pieces of land with large blocks of student accommodation.

The Earlsdon-based developer has produced artist's impressions which show the spectacular transformation when Victorian buildings are introduced.

He wants Coventry council to back his plans to produce the high quality apartments in areas such as Salt Lane, Bishops Street and Well Street.

Mr Denyer, who is also a member of Coventry Society, said: “I want to help the city get over its concrete hangover from the 1950s and 1960s.

“I have always had an ambition to help Coventry city centre turn itself around. I have looked at the possibilities of what it would take to change it quite dramatically.

“I’m not a big developer, but I’m passionate about architecture and the power of it to transform streetscapes and bring in quality footfall.”

Mr Denyer, who recently refurbished two buildings in Davenport Road, said he wanted to work with the council to produce a pilot scheme in a mutually agreed area.

He said he would foot the bill for development in exchange for the council handing over the leasehold and that profits would then be shared between his firm and the council - something which he believes would provide a better long-term benefit to the taxpayer than selling off leaseholds to student accommodation developers.

He agreed there was a need for student accommodation, and he was supportive of the ongoing developments, but he believed a successful city centre required a mixture of developments.

He said: “I think student accommodation is only part of the big picture Coventry needs to regenerate itself.

“I understand the need for councils to get a return on their assets, but through a joint venture deal they could see a greater return in 18 to 24 months than through a deal with a student accommodation developer.

“If you can establish a successful up-market or prestige development pilot scheme then other developers will be more inclined to look at that rather than the student-type developments we have seen so far.”


Artist's impression of the transformation of Fairfax Street

Mr Denyer did accept there are risks to his proposals, but insists they were worth taking.

He said: “If you are providing residential homes for £200,000 to £300,000 that’s a big leap of faith to expect someone to pay that when there hasn’t really been anyone living in the city centre for the past 75 years.

“But there are some big employers in Coventry and this is an opportunity to drive more people with cash into accommodation within ten minutes of the city centre.

“The style would be appropriate, there are already similar looking buildings in The Quadrant and historically there were quite a number of Victorian-style buildings like this in the city centre.

“Having something like this would provide a balance to the newer buildings in the city centre.”

He added: “Imagine Salt Lane and the Bishops Gate area lined with trees, paving and Victorian- and Georgian-style buildings all the way to Lady Herbert’s Garden. That’s the type of architecture that would make people think again about Coventry.

“I think it could seriously work. I see this as the missing link to the regeneration of Coventry city centre.”

Asked if he was hopeful of getting the council on board with his idea, he said he was still waiting to hear back from the planning department.

Mr Denyer added: “I’m not saying I have all the answers in terms of finance, where and the most appropriate buildings. But it would be great to have a conversation.”

[rebbonk]

I'd seen these a few days back and I'm of very mixed opinion.

Basically, I like the nice clean lines, but do wonder if we wouldn't be better looking forward rather than backward in time?

My other concern would be just who would buy these apartments/homes? The city centre is a dire mess, would you want to live there?

However, despite my misgivings I do think it's nice to see something different proposed.

[dutchman]

Designer's vision of transforming Coventry city centre with Victorian buildings played down by senior councillor

Cold water has been poured on a designer’s vision to transform Coventry city centre by building Victorian-style luxury homes.

Coun Kevin Maton, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for enterprise, said he didn’t think the finances would stack up when it came to building high quality apartment style accommodation to buy or rent in the city centre.

However, he said he would be happy to meet with Earlsdon-based designer Alan Denyer, who is also a member of Coventry Society, to discuss the plans.

Mr Denyer, of AWD Restorations, believes his idea of building the £200,000 to £300,000 luxury apartments would be a viable alternative to the current trend of filling up derelict pieces of land with large blocks of student accommodation.

He wants to work with the council to produce a pilot scheme in a mutually agreed area and insists he would foot the bill for development in exchange for the council handing over the leasehold of a suitable area of land.

Profits would then be shared between his firm and the council - something which he believes would provide a better long-term benefit to the taxpayer than selling off leaseholds to student accommodation developers.

But Coun Maton said: “Is there a market there? Apartments for sale outside of London have a troubled history.

“In Britain we don’t have a particularly strong history of building apartments in city centres. The preference, particularly when people have children, is to buy a house or somewhere with clear open space.”

Coun Maton said private developers had discussed the possibility of high quality private rental accommodation with the council during the recent trip to the MIPIM property conference.

But he said the locations suggested by Mr Denyer, such as existing car parks on Fairfax Street and Salt Lane, didn’t seem to be suitable.

He said: “There will be private rental sector interest as the improvements to the railway station advance.

“There are plots at Friargate, and next to the new council block, earmarked for private rental accommodation.”

He added: “Look at the Fairfax Street plot, it’s next to a busy ring road, a former swimming pool, surrounded by students, next to a bingo hall and a bus station.

“Does that sound like a location where any sort of high quality apartment sale is going to happen?

“If you can tell me how that can stack up, I’m interested in hearing it.”

Asked about the potential to create a whole street lined with Victorian-style buildings, Coun Maton said: “I wouldn’t rule anything out.

“The sites suggested don’t seem to strike me as the sort of places where you will be able to get investment to develop high quality city centre housing for sale complete with landscaping.

“If he or any other developer says I think we could make this happen, I wouldn’t rule that out.”

He added: “If he writes to me, I’m quite happy to talk to him.”