A radical move to redevelop Coventry city centre is set to take a major step forward when local people get a first look at the detailed blueprint that will begin transformation.

Coventry City Council has been working in partnership with Aviva - the other major landowner - on a £300 million plan for the city centre south which covers Bull Yard, Shelton Square, City Arcade, Barracks car park and Hertford Street.

The blueprint is based on the comments received from the thousands of local people who took part in a groundbreaking consultation three years ago which resulted in the Jerde vision. These included ensuring any development reflects the pride of local people and is more than just a shopping centre, ensuring future sustainability and creating a flexible plan that can adapt and accommodate changing demands of a 21st century city.

The proposal reflects the city's heritage and is partly inspired by the 1950s Gibson plan - recreating the iconic cross layout and better connecting Market Way, Hertford Street, IKEA and the market. It also looks forward - ensuring it fits with other regeneration projects like Friargate at the station and the transformation of Broadgate as the city's main events square.

The plans that will be submitted for outline approval include a new anchor store, a 1,200 space car park, cinema complex, hotel, apartments, new and refurbished retail units of the right size to attract new shops and the reintegration of the market into the scheme.


The configuration, size and number of new units proposed in the plan are designed to attract the big stores and quality brands people would expect to see in a centre as large as Coventry. The scale and viability of the scheme has been carefully planned to provide the best chance of attracting the right developer and range of retailers.

The new 120,000 square foot anchor store (equivalent to almost two full-size football pitches) - located towards Bull Yard will provide retail over three floors. It has been positioned and designed to maximise its appeal to all the top retailers - and includes a new car park. The nearby hotel will include shops below and the cinema will be at first floor level - with restaurants at ground floor level.

Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for City Development said: "This blueprint gives a real feel for the way the area will be developed. It builds on our work already underway in Broadgate and on the Station to Bull Yard route which was always aimed at kick-starting the regeneration of our city centre. And critically it is firmly rooted in the ten priorities set by local people as part of the Jerde vision. I believe that this is the beginning of one of the most exciting transformations our city has seen in 50 years - it is what people have been asking for and importantly it is a deliverable plan.

"We have been working with Aviva, the other major landowner, over the last year to make sure we get the plan absolutely right. We have set the design bar very high indeed - but that's because we know how important it is that we don't just create a clone shopping centre like anywhere else. Coventry is unique and has its own special character - and we want to celebrate that. That's why it was so important that the plan retains and improves the cross layout inspired by the Donald Gibson plan after the devastation of the war but still works in a modern way - providing the size of units that todays retailers what and ensuring that it connects to the surrounding area as well as future developments.

"Getting the scale of the new units just right has been very important. But just as important is our support to our independent retailers - now, ahead of the work getting underway, when the redevelopment begins and when it's open for business. Of course a regenerated city centre will benefit all retailers, and independent traders are crucial in making our city centre different to any other. Some existing tenants will need to move to new premises, and we'll do what we can to support them in making this happen. But clearly a new development brings new retailers and attracts more shoppers which is good for everyone.

"Coventry people deserve a city centre they can proud of and this begins the journey to achieving that. I hope everyone is excited as me about seeing the plans."

(CD/GK)