Second office building at Coventry's Friargate development given go-ahead

[dutchman]

Plans approved by majority of city councillors despite concerns about height, potential parking issues, taxi problems - and a petition opposing it



The second office building that forms part of the Friargate development has been approved by Coventry City Council.

The building was approved by a majority of councillors on the planning committee although a report showed that there were concerns about its height, potential parking issues and ongoing problems relating to taxis.

A petition was also submitted opposing it - signed by 28 residents of nearby Stoney Road

Residents’ concerns mostly related to parking in the area and claims a residents’ parking scheme was not being properly enforced.

They suggested that a large number of people were parking on nearby streets to use Coventry railway station - a situation they fear will get worse if the new office block is built.

Council officers pointed out that around 600 parking tickets had been issued in the Cheylesmore West area since last July.

Residents also said there were problems with taxis parking up in disabled bays and on double yellow lines.

Other concerns related to the height of the block being an “invasion of privacy”.

Although the decision was approved councillors concluded the parking situation needed to be looked at further, as was the case regarding issues with buses and taxis.

The new office building has been designed by architectural practice Allies & Morrison and will sit alongside the new Coventry City Council building which is currently under construction.

It will deliver a new commercial space with a glazed pavilion at its top level, offering views across the city.

The building will also provide balconies with views over the new tree-lined public realm, being delivered as part of the development.

The 14-storey building will also have a double-height ground floor that will provide leisure space for a restaurant or cafe with frontage onto the newly opened pedestrian boulevard in Station Square.

Welcoming the planning committee’s decision, Stephen Reynolds, of Friargate Coventry, said: “We are pleased to have secured planning consent for the second Friargate building having worked closely with the council throughout the planning process.

“The masterplan is now beginning to redefine the urban landscape linking the station with the city centre.”

Ian Stringer, of Bilfinger GVA, added: “Two Friargate will deliver over 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in Coventry City Centre, with floor plates from 11,000 sq ft upwards.

“With sustainability and staff well-being becoming increasingly important for service sector businesses, it is the first opportunity in decades for discerning occupiers to locate into a new sustainable building, adjacent to a major public transport hub, in Coventry City Centre.”

The 37 acre Friargate development is predicted to create up to 15,000 jobs.

Among the 25 new buildings to be delivered, will be 14 new office buildings, hotels, shops and restaurants in addition to new homes.

[dutchman]

Council's Friargate project in disarray after second tenant changes plans



Coventry City Council’s Friargate plans have been thrown into disarray with question marks hanging over the future of a second tower scheduled to be built at the site.

It has emerged that the council now plans to share its new home, the glass fronted building currently being constructed near to Coventry railway station , with a private sector tenant the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

But RICS was originally due to move into another large tower which is also planned to be built at the site as part of the £100million project which the council hopes will create 15,000 jobs in the city . The plan was that the firm would share with another organisation - but it’s understood no pre-let agreement was signed for tower two by RICS.

With no tenant for the second building, the future of that significant element of the project now appears to be in doubt.

The city council had planned to relocate more than 1,800 staff to One Friargate this year, but if a deal is struck to sub-let part of the building currently under construction to RICS then the council will revise its plans.

[rebbonk]

I have always had (and continue to have) reservations about this whole scheme.

[dutchman]

£100m Friargate project falling apart as major tenant pulls out



Question marks hang over the future of the £100million Friargate project around Coventry train station after the council's only other tenant pulled out.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has withdrawn from plans to relocate its headquarters to the site.

Coventry City Council had planned to share its new home, the glass fronted building currently being constructed near to Coventry railway station , with RICS.

The RICS board met today where the decision was taken not to move to the site.

This means the council will now revert back to its original plan of 1,800 council staff moving into the new 11 storey building later this year.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “I’m disappointed though not surprised that the RICS have decided against a move to Friargate.

“When I knew the second building at Friargate wouldn’t be built quickly enough for RICS we moved fast to come up with a solution for them, so this is disappointing news. But we wish the RICS well with whatever their next move is.

“Now, for us it’s simple - we will crack on with working with the developer to attract other businesses to the site. We believe Friargate has great potential but this experience demonstrates that a more robust approach to the development of the critical Friargate scheme is needed, so that’s what’s we will be working on.”

[rebbonk]

This scheme was always doubtful. Like many council/government projects it was far too optimistic from the start.

Another vanity project hits the buffers.

[dutchman]

RICS to pull out of Coventry ENTIRELY after failed Friargate move

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has confirmed it is pulling out of Coventry entirely just weeks after turning its back on a move to the city’s Friargate development.

RICS has issued a statement confirming it will relocate all staff from its Westwood Business Park offices in the city to Birmingham.

Bosses hope to have completed the withdrawal from Coventry by the end of this year.

The statement indicates that they have decided to move as a result of the slow progress of Coventry City Council’s flagship Friargate development around Coventry railway station.

Sean Tompkins, chief executive of RICS, said: “Since April 2014, one of RICS’ organisational priorities has been the relocation of our Coventry operations to a more suitable workspace for a growing global 21st century professional body.

“We have since explored a variety of options including moving to alternative premises in Coventry, relocation to Birmingham, and the refurbishment of existing premises.

“Having carefully assessed each viable option, we can today announce that we will be moving our entire Coventry based operations to new Grade A premises in Birmingham City Centre. We intend to complete our move by the end of 2017.

“While we are obviously disappointed that the proposal to move into a new development in Coventry City Centre did not materialise in the timescales originally envisaged, we are more than satisfied that our new premises will fit our organisational needs and vision for the future.”

RICS have been asked by the Telegraph if any jobs are at risk as a result of the move and how many staff members will be affected by the relocation.

[dutchman]

RICS move to Birmingham will see 250 jobs lost in Coventry

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) decision to leave Coventry will see 250 jobs lost in the city.

Bosses have confirmed the company will leave the city for new premises in Birmingham after a failed attempt to relocate to Coventry City Council’s flagship £100m Friargate development.

A spokesman for RICS has insisted no redundancies were planned as a result of the company’s planned move down the A45 - which it hopes to complete by the end of this year.

A RICS statement, issued in response to questions from the Telegraph, also seemed to point the finger at delays around the Friargate project for the company’s ultimate decision to leave Coventry.

But the council’s cabinet member for jobs, Labour Cllr Jim O’Boyle, suggested the local authority was not concerned by the move insisting the council had “bigger fish to fry”.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle said: “Good luck to them, we have bigger fish to fry.

“It’s plain to anybody that Friargate hasn’t accelerated at the speed anyone wanted it to and it needs a new injection of urgency.

“We’re busy working on progression around our approach to Channel 4 and others as we look to get Friargate back on track. Clearly it’s lost focus.”

He added: “There was never any contractual arrangement in place that would ensure RICS would come to Friargate.

“It wasn’t until Christmas that we made an offer.”

O'Boyle---->

[rebbonk]

O’Boyle ... we have bigger fish to fry