Huge Coventry developments hailed as 'perfect' example of how to plan for the future

[dutchman]

President of the Institution of Civil Engineers Sir John Armitt praised Coventry development during a visit to the Midlands



The country’s top civil engineer says projects like Friargate and the proposed water park show Coventry is on course to become one of the UK’s top cities.

Sir John Armitt, president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), hailed the city as “a perfect example” of planning for the future during a visit today.

The ICE is working with other organisations to gather evidence and opinions to create a national needs assessment for UK infrastructure.

Coventry is currently experiencing a boom in development, with huge student accommodation projects underway in the city centre as well as the work to improve Tollbar Island.

The council has also unveiled plans to built a £36.7million water park and leisure centre by late 2018.

Sir John said: “Coventry is a perfect example of why we need to get this right, and start planning for the future now.

“I can see the very fabric of the city is changing through investment in its infrastructure.

“New housing developments, leisure facilities, buildings that will provide new opportunities to businesses, and road projects like the Tollbar Island improvement scheme, which reached a major milestone this week with the opening of a new bridge.

“The Friargate and City Centre South developments are also revitalising Coventry’s business, retail and leisure offering and transforming the city centre.

“The future also looks bright. An expansion project is planned at Jaguar Land Rover, Government has put its weight behind a Midlands Engine to attract investment and improve connectivity in the region, and the Midlands Connect collaboration has been tasked with developing a strategy to identify what exactly is needed to improve connectivity between the regions’ key points.”

Sir John said while individual infrastructure projects were delivering improvements for people in Coventry, it was important they should be integrated and part of a long-term plan.

He added: “I am pleased leaders in Coventry have had their say and I am inspired by the projects I see underway and the passion of those driving them.

“It’s clear to see this historic city is on its way onto the list of top UK cities.”

[dutchman]

Council leader 'anxious and impatient' over multi-million Friargate and City Centre South projects



Coventry council’s new leader says he is worried over an apparent lack of progress at the city's flagship Friargate business district development.

Coun George Duggins said he was impatient with progress around the £100m project around Coventry Railway Station.

The only building under construction is the new HQ for the city council who are currently the only confirmed tenants for the scheme, which is hoped to attract businesses, shops, bars and hotels.

Coun Duggins also opened up about the long-awaited £300m City Centre South project.

He said he had no preference when it came to attracting an anchor tenant to build the scheme around.

“I’m anxious because at the moment we can’t get a handle on where we actually are. It may take off very quickly, and that’s what I’m looking for.

“I’m not saying that people aren’t making an effort, I’m not accusing people of that. But progress seems to be slow.”

“City Centre South is scheduled to be a transformative project. There’s three legs to it, Friargate, City Centre South and the new water park.

“We need all of them to be making progress almost simultaneously. But they’re not all going to be coming down the stream at the same time, there are different timescales.”

That would seem to totally contradict John Armitt's analysis of the situation?

[Melisandre]

Oh dear and where will the White Hall Civil Servants that Geofrey Robinson has invited to move here go then as usual the left hand does nt know what the right hands doing.