Green light for £1.5 billion scheme
Published: 2010-02-10 13:18:01
Planning permission was granted last month for Cannon Kirk's £1.5 billion, 300,000sq m Friargate development opposite Coventry's train station.
Architect Allies and Morrison's plans for the development includes office buildings, two hotels, new homes, in addition to shops, restaurants, bars and a new public square.
The 15-hectare scheme is to play a huge role in the regeneration of Coventry, according to councillor Ken Taylor, leader of Coventry City Council. "This approval for Friargate is proof if it were needed of our great city's ability to reinvent itself," he said. "It's a fantastically exciting plan and at a time when developments across the country have stalled - here we are looking at a great scheme that could create up to 15,000 new jobs.
"It covers over 37 acres and will transform the area around the railway station, create a fantastic, green pedestrian route into the heart of our city centre and will connect perfectly with our plans to develop the south side of the city centre as part of the Jerde masterplan. The proposed office floor space at Friargate will be the equivalent of more than 17 Severn Trent buildings and once the offices are occupied we're expecting the 15,000 workers to bring an extra £150 million a year spend in the city centre."
Construction of the scheme is expected to run for between 10 and 15 years.
Further details can be found here and in the new issue of Central City magazine.
