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chillitt
14-01-2008, 06:10 PM
Or did I dream it? No! it's real!! BBC NEWS | England | Coventry/Warwickshire | Coventry £1bn redevelopment plan (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7186641.stm)
What do you get for a billion nowadays? More importantly, Whose billion is it?:rolleyes:

cathidaw
15-01-2008, 12:23 AM
you may well ask. And also who decides what to spend it on.
About 18 months ago there was an article in the Coventry Telegraph telling us that Coventry had been given----or had found enough money to renew all of the street lights in the whole of Coventry and it was to start immediately. Ihave the date somewhere.
Iremember it well because , more than lighting we needed footpaths and roads repairing, but no-the wise men of the City decided to use it for lighting --against all opposition.
Can't say I have noticed new lights anywhere-maybe there were a few Ihave missed.
However..last week it was announced ---massive headlines in the Telegraph that Coventry had been given a grant to renew all of the lighting in the city.
Now- what happened to the other money?. Whose pockets did that go into.?

Leofric
20-01-2008, 11:14 PM
Or did I dream it? No! it's real!! BBC NEWS | England | Coventry/Warwickshire | Coventry £1bn redevelopment plan (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7186641.stm)
What do you get for a billion nowadays? More importantly, Whose billion is it?:rolleyes:

It's private money from developers plus some from the council. There are three major landowners involved - Modus, Morley and the City Council.

This is very good news. Coventry City centre is an absolute mess, having been subjected to a series of botched attempts at regeneration over the years. This has left the city centre disjointed.

Added to current developments in the city - the big development at the Butts (Which is going to be home to a government department), the relocation of Severn Trent to a new office building near the police station, and developments such as Friargate & Belgrade Plaza - this is good. Hopefully they'll get it right this time!

Leofric
09-09-2008, 09:44 PM
Does anyone know when the redevelopment is due to start? It gets mentioned once in a while on the local news, but no work on the project seems imminent.


Apparently, a masterplan will be made public this year...
However, one of the companies who owns part of the shopping area actually sold it and the other one has been cancelling shopping developments around the country.

Leofric
02-11-2008, 04:19 PM
Has anyone seen this masterplan?
It all looks big and flash (Six new towers?) but seems to be a rehash of old ideas rather than bold and new.

Still, there's some good ideas in it... Recreating medieval streetplans, for example, and making the layout of the precinct different.

On the negative side, it's still just a vast precinct area all prob with the same style of building.

Will
03-11-2008, 09:17 AM
Hell Leofric, long time no see. :)

I haven't seen the plans, are they online anywhere?

Leofric
06-11-2008, 01:00 AM
Hell Leofric, long time no see. :)

I haven't seen the plans, are they online anywhere?

Coventry City Council: City Centre Regeneration (http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/planning/city-centre-regeneration/)

cathidaw
07-11-2008, 12:06 AM
I feel quite cynical about this new plan,but hopefully I will be proved wrong.
Iget the feeling that the new designers will disregard all that has been done in the past and sweep all before them with this new overall plan.
Also I cannot believe that anyone is going to be thrilled at the idea of the unique circular market being moved, after all the hype this week of it's 50 successfull years.
Also the mess of new build will last for ever. By the time it is finished in a good few years time people will have gone elsewhere-who wants to shop forever in a building site--and our grand new centre will be empty again.
Did I miss a concert hall or civic centre on the new plan?
perhaps I need to look again.
I like the idea of opening up the river and making the town more attractive
but I can't see that although 'they' asked the people of Coventry what they wanted--that [I]this[/is exactly it.

ps I have looked at the plans and still can't find anything resembling a civic centre or concert hall which is deperately needed, so we shall all have to go to other cities or-- even Bedworth Civic Hall to see a big show.

Shizara
07-11-2008, 06:32 PM
It's the same old story isn't it? They pay lip service to the town folk and ask what they would like to see. Then find reasons to carry on with their own agenda.


I like the idea of opening up the river and making the town more attractive

That would make the town very attractive. It could be argued that it would cost money to do properly and they might not get a return for that. Equally it could also be argued that if the area is attractive surely more would wander and linger, maybe remember things they need to buy or buy additional things....

Leofric
08-11-2008, 11:22 PM
It's the same old story isn't it? They pay lip service to the town folk and ask what they would like to see. Then find reasons to carry on with their own agenda.



That would make the town very attractive. It could be argued that it would cost money to do properly and they might not get a return for that. Equally it could also be argued that if the area is attractive surely more would wander and linger, maybe remember things they need to buy or buy additional things....


It's not the real river. It's a water feature that follows the path of the river. The river is too polluted to be opened up, apparently.

They didn't pay lip service- this plan was made up from the consulation.

I'm glad that horrible round market is going.

Leofric
08-11-2008, 11:24 PM
I feel quite cynical about this new plan,but hopefully I will be proved wrong.
Iget the feeling that the new designers will disregard all that has been done in the past and sweep all before them with this new overall plan.
Also I cannot believe that anyone is going to be thrilled at the idea of the unique circular market being moved, after all the hype this week of it's 50 successfull years.
Also the mess of new build will last for ever. By the time it is finished in a good few years time people will have gone elsewhere-who wants to shop forever in a building site--and our grand new centre will be empty again.
Did I miss a concert hall or civic centre on the new plan?
perhaps I need to look again.
I like the idea of opening up the river and making the town more attractive
but I can't see that although 'they' asked the people of Coventry what they wanted--that [I]this[/is exactly it.

ps I have looked at the plans and still can't find anything resembling a civic centre or concert hall which is deperately needed, so we shall all have to go to other cities or-- even Bedworth Civic Hall to see a big show.


There is a concert hall/venue - it's labelled as the "Locarno 2".

cathidaw
09-02-2012, 01:32 AM
I hear tonight that the whole Jerde project is OFF.
It has been decided to revamp what we have already. And so they should, but that means that the city centre will never be much more than a builders site.
What a peicemeal muddle the whole city is in, roads blocked off, others going nowhere, alleyways all over the place,and any building worth keeping gone or rotting.
Our once beautiful if tatty city has been ruined by outsiders...and they weren't even German.
And that hideous blue Ikea towering over what bit of skyline was left.
No wonder people despair and shop elsewhere

Shizara
02-06-2012, 11:51 AM
The area around the Coventry railway station could do with attention. The garden area with the wee train is nice but the shops and huge building that looks forlorn do nothing to make people feel welcome.

I would use Coventry more to get to work or home when there are no local services but if I was to get a bus for the remaining part of the journey then I am faced with the subway to the town centre to find a bus. No thanks, especially late at night or early in the morning and more so if it is dark.

Shizara
02-06-2012, 11:54 AM
I think that sometimes councils have grandiose ideas and not always within the realms of reality. Revamping would possibly cost considerably less but as cathidaw says:

the city centre will never be much more than a builders site.
What a peicemeal muddle the whole city is in, roads blocked off, others going nowhere, alleyways all over the place,and any building worth keeping gone or rotting.
Our once beautiful if tatty city has been ruined by outsiders...and they weren't even German.
And that hideous blue Ikea towering over what bit of skyline was left.
No wonder people despair and shop elsewhere

Lex
16-11-2013, 07:03 PM
It's not £1 billion, but it's better than nothing...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-24972911

Lex
21-12-2013, 11:04 PM
Looks like the start of work is imminent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25477325

rebbonk
22-12-2013, 05:41 AM
The whole area ought have been bulldozed. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Lex
22-12-2013, 08:44 AM
Yeah, Coventry is a bit of a rubbish tip in places. Maybe the council should have got the people who redesigned Birmingham city centre in to do the job.

Lex
04-08-2014, 05:47 PM
Dont know if it's part of the main redevelopment, but Gosford St. is having some work done on it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-28641360

Lex
05-02-2015, 09:37 PM
Yet more ideas; maybe somebody could, make their mind up, and just get on with it!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-31129576

rebbonk
06-02-2015, 10:14 AM
I think it'll all depend on which particular member of the council has custody of the brain cell on the day they make a decision.

This council has wasted millions over the years with ill thought through and mismatched schemes.

Some idiot even agreed to smooth high gloss paving on an incline down to the lower precinct. Looked great, but was a slippery disaster in the wet, which it was very prone to. I bet it cost a small (and needless) fortune to rough up those very expensive high gloss paving slabs.

Sadly, it's very easy to spend other people's money...

Lex
23-11-2016, 07:06 PM
Personally, I can't see Harvey Nichols or Selfridges signing up to move to Cov: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/city-centre-south-secret-deal-12218202

rebbonk
23-11-2016, 08:50 PM
Seriously, why on earth would any big chain store come here? - It's a pipe dream, unless seriously subsidised.

Lex
24-11-2016, 10:08 PM
Coventry isn't renowned for being a shopping destination; maybe the developer's hoping to change the situation? Or it could just a pipe dream, as you say, Rebbonk.

Lex
24-01-2017, 08:43 PM
Hope the £82m is well spent: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/revealed-first-look-82m-coventry-12498279

rebbonk
24-01-2017, 09:33 PM
I really don't have a good feeling about this. :(

Lex
25-01-2017, 06:14 PM
It'll be fine - well managed, and completed on time & within budget! :rolleyes:

Lex
25-01-2017, 06:50 PM
Coventry Point's on the way out; there seems to be a big push on in redeveloping Coventry: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/300m-city-centre-south-scheme-12500662

rebbonk
25-01-2017, 09:31 PM
If it happens I'll believe it

rebbonk
25-01-2017, 09:33 PM
Yeah!

Lex
29-03-2017, 07:23 PM
Remembering palaver the BBC's move to Manchester caused, I'm not sure this will happen; it might turn out to be good for the area if it does happen, though: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-ambitious-bid-send-channel-12815699

rebbonk
29-03-2017, 07:43 PM
I can't see it happening somehow.

Lex
13-06-2017, 07:33 PM
The Financial Ombudsman Scheme is moving in to one of the buildings: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-identity-new-friargate-tenant-13179455

rebbonk
14-06-2017, 09:14 AM
And by sub-letting part of this building the council have completely destroyed their argument for building it, as the whole council now won't be moving in.

cathidaw
15-06-2017, 11:14 PM
I think its a good thing. Our station is so old fashioned and now that the road system is better and so much easier to get there it is needed.
My only problems are with train prices.

Lex
01-01-2018, 09:08 PM
Holiday lets in the city centre & offices in cemeteries? Plus, the City Centre South & Friargete development plans are looking very shaky. I'm not convinced this will be the success the council hopes it will be: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/ten-reasons-everyone-want-live-14089593

Lex
01-01-2018, 09:22 PM
Put this article here as well as '£1 Billion Redevelopment for Coventry', as paying for the station's redevelopment involves the council borrowing money while they sort the funding out (bit of a bad whiff about that): http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/ten-reasons-everyone-want-live-14089593

Lex
01-01-2018, 09:30 PM
Just merged 'Major Department Store for Coventry?' & 'Channel 4 to Move to Coventry?' threads with this thread, as they all seem to be part of Coventry City Council's 'big plan'.

Lex
01-01-2018, 09:31 PM
Just merged 'Major Department Store for Coventry?' & 'Channel 4 to Move to Coventry?' threads with this thread, as they all seem to be part of Coventry City Council's 'big plan'.

Ditto for 'Railway Station Refurbishment'

rebbonk
02-01-2018, 11:06 AM
Holiday lets in the city centre & offices in cemeteries? Plus, the City Centre South & Friargete development plans are looking very shaky. I'm not convinced this will be the success the council hopes it will be: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/ten-reasons-everyone-want-live-14089593

It'll be a disaster. They haven't thought it through properly at all.

Lex
02-01-2018, 04:46 PM
I don't think they've thought about it much at all - it all seems very piecemeal.

cathidaw
03-01-2018, 02:06 AM
I'm wondering where the two or three- and more, grants went which were awarded to do this, once or twice, and more, upon a time.
And where will the money go, which the council was awarded, if Friargate never gets finished.
It is time councils were asked to account for everything they spend, accounts which should be published for the public to see.
Its not their money.

rebbonk
03-01-2018, 10:32 AM
It is time councils were asked to account for everything they spend, accounts which should be published for the public to see.

They hide behind the cloak of "commercially sensitive" which they shouldn't be allowed to. Councils ought be completely transparent.

Of course, that'll never happen as certain councillors have far too much to lose. - They all think the public are stupid, which they aren't.

Lex
06-01-2018, 03:05 PM
The farce continues: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/two-national-chains-fighting-out-14116965

rebbonk
06-01-2018, 04:34 PM
All I can say is that O'Boyle was a union steward at Peugeot. - Need I say more? And I was there the day that production ceased, grown men were in tears.

cathidaw
08-01-2018, 12:22 AM
We can't have large store like this empty during our City of Culture term

What would our Neighbours say.! !

Lex
12-01-2018, 09:04 PM
More potential bad news for City & County: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/new-look-stores-coventry-warwickshire-14144904

rebbonk
13-01-2018, 09:59 AM
I don't think I've ever been in one of these stores, but according to Mrs R who has visited with her grandchildren, they're rather like Primark, but more expensive.

Lex
13-01-2018, 06:39 PM
Ah, a more upmarket jumble sale, then?

rebbonk
14-01-2018, 10:01 AM
I suspect that is a very fair summary

Lex
14-01-2018, 12:52 PM
I've sometimes looked round shops of this type towards the end of the trading day, and that's pretty much what they look like.

Lex
19-01-2018, 07:14 PM
Looks like Friargate LLP will do very nicely out of this, while the council gets lumbered with someone else's debts: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/millions-pounds-coventry-taxpayers-cash-14173209

rebbonk
19-01-2018, 08:11 PM
It's not the council, but the local tax payers being stuffed. :sad: It's OUR money that O'Boyle and his incompetent cronies are wasting, despite worldly advice to the contrary.

Lex
23-01-2018, 06:43 PM
Some mixed views on the Friargate project: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/friargate-vanity-project-reader-reactions-14192308

rebbonk
23-01-2018, 09:11 PM
I have one quoted there. My daughter took great delight in sending me a screen shot. It's a pity that they didn't use another of my quotes on the topic, but I guess they removed that one as they would deem it rude.

Lex
10-03-2018, 04:15 PM
£90m thrown at the black hole by the WMCA: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-railway-station-friargate-90m-14393134

rebbonk
10-03-2018, 04:37 PM
Our money!

Somehow I doubt that the project will ever be completed in its entirety, and I'll bet that it'll never deliver the financial benefits promised.

Lex
10-03-2018, 06:59 PM
Nah, it'll be the best thing that ever happened to Coventry! *guffaw*

Lex
11-05-2018, 11:25 PM
Remembering palaver the BBC's move to Manchester caused, I'm not sure this will happen; it might turn out to be good for the area if it does happen, though: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-ambitious-bid-send-channel-12815699

The fight has started. I'm interested to know about the £418 million benefit to the economy. Does this apply to only Leamington? Will this be an annual figure, or will it be over a number of years?

https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/bid-for-channel-4-to-come-to-leamington-launched-by-council-1-8495672

rebbonk
12-05-2018, 10:33 AM
I remain unconvinced.

A coordinated WMCA would be far more preferable than these ad hoc stand alone attempts. Andy Street ought be coordinating things but he has a vested interest in it going to Birmingham (As most of the benefits from the WMCA will!)

Lex
18-05-2018, 08:57 PM
Another bit of piecemeal redevelopment for Coventry; I wonder if anyone has thought of creating a 'clear vision & aspiration' for the whole redevelopment of the city?

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/neglected-canal-basin-could-become-14655003

rebbonk
19-05-2018, 10:46 AM
I actually like that area, but it's been let go badly since its last revamp. If money is going to be spent, then ongoing maintenance must be kept up.

That's also the only place in Coventry that I've ever had a car broken into!

Lex
19-05-2018, 03:21 PM
From the picture, the area looks ok - a sort of scaled down version of Birmingham's canal area.

rebbonk
19-05-2018, 04:35 PM
It's a blind termination of the canal. The Canal splits into 2 wharves, originally for loading/unloading purposes. I believe these days one of the wharves is largely taken over by a boat hire company.

Lex
30-05-2018, 10:18 PM
Remembering palaver the BBC's move to Manchester caused, I'm not sure this will happen; it might turn out to be good for the area if it does happen, though: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-ambitious-bid-send-channel-12815699

So, this won't actually be Channel 4's new HQ, just a token gesture to the world outside the M25: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/channel-4-14723815

rebbonk
31-05-2018, 10:44 AM
That about sums it up Lex.

Lex
31-05-2018, 07:07 PM
Yeah, a waste of time.

Lex
31-05-2018, 07:26 PM
Another building is being pulled down. I don't think it looks that bad, but the photographer could just have done a good job of making it look that way: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/date-set-demolition-one-coventrys-14723531

rebbonk
31-05-2018, 09:48 PM
I've never had a problem with that building. However, I don't believe it has ever been fully occupied since it was built.

Lex
01-06-2018, 07:50 PM
A vision of things to come?

Lex
05-07-2018, 06:37 PM
So many jokes, so little time! :D

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-underground-toilets-denyer-14869741

rebbonk
05-07-2018, 07:16 PM
Those toilets should never have been closed. Coventry has very few public toilets, in fact, if I needed them whilst in the city centre I really don't know where any are.

City of culture without any toilets - That's Coventry!

And as for filling them with concrete, that's going to cost a bloody fortune. Those toilets were quite a size!

Lex
23-07-2018, 10:24 PM
So, this won't actually be Channel 4's new HQ, just a token gesture to the world outside the M25: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/channel-4-14723815

Coventry didn't get a look in; never mind, eh: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/channel-four-coventry-hq-14942924

rebbonk
24-07-2018, 10:12 AM
We were only on the list to make the numbers up. :(

My bet is Manchester will get it. - It makes sense as BBC's media city is there.

Lex
26-09-2018, 07:23 PM
The 'We Love Concrete' set have thrown their hat in the ring: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/upper-precinct-plans-coventry-15197874

rebbonk
26-09-2018, 07:45 PM
Interesting. I have to say I agree with several of their points. Nice that they agree about the removal of the escalator though. - IIRC, that was put in on the demand of Branson's Virgin empire.

Lex
04-10-2018, 08:55 PM
Housing for locals!

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/plans-approved-major-new-development-15238804

rebbonk
04-10-2018, 09:34 PM
I can only say that I'd not want to live there!

Lex
28-11-2018, 06:27 PM
More money being thrown at the city: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/waterside-caf-quarter-development-gets-15477841

Lex
01-01-2019, 11:26 AM
The redevelopment of Coventry could have been worse: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/new-years-eve-glitterballs-coventry-15610734

rebbonk
01-01-2019, 12:51 PM
I'd love to know how much money the council wasted exploring and commissioning those studies.

Lex
18-05-2019, 08:53 AM
To be labelled run down in Coventry, the Burges must be in a really bad state: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/work-start-25million-restoration-eyesore-16290631

rebbonk
18-05-2019, 10:23 AM
It is truly dreadful Lex. Yet when I was a kid it was quite decent.

Lex
18-05-2019, 03:49 PM
It's a shame it's been allowed to get in such a state.

rebbonk
18-05-2019, 04:30 PM
I'm afraid it's largely the council to blame. They have spent money elsewhere on vanity projects (city centre south for example), but neglected this once thriving part of the city.

Lex
24-08-2019, 10:08 PM
Another piece of the city's redevelopment plan going well: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-news-street-market-16807890

rebbonk
25-08-2019, 11:12 AM
O'Boyle again! The man is an abomination.

Before getting on with grandiose plans like this (that are likely to fail anyway because of the weather) Coventry needs to be made safe, the homeless housed, and the empty shops used. - And that's only the tip of the iceberg. :(

Lex
29-08-2019, 07:20 PM
I'm sure this will look great: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/the-wave-coventry-water-park-16280568

rebbonk
29-08-2019, 08:11 PM
"The water park element of The Wave will also open in the spring for a number of test events in readiness for a full public launch early in the summer 2019."

Well behind opening schedule and the building looks like an upturned baby's potty. - Totally out of character with the surrounding buildings. :(

Lex
31-08-2019, 08:30 AM
Brutalist concrete would be much more fitting!

rebbonk
31-08-2019, 01:47 PM
I must admit I quite like the aged brutalist concrete look.

Many hate the old De Vere hotel (now Britannia) but I think it has a charm of its own.

Lex
14-09-2019, 05:41 PM
This might make your day, Rebbonk; £2 million will buy a lot a lot of concrete ;) : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49692090

rebbonk
15-09-2019, 09:39 AM
I think they intend using the money on The Burges. It'll provide a few coats of paint.

Talking concrete buildings, I was looking at The Novotel this morning. That's largely concrete sections and I think it's aged incredibly well. - It must be around 50 years old as I remember it being built.

Lex
09-10-2019, 07:11 PM
The Water Park due to open soon: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-the-wave-water-park-17057502

rebbonk
09-10-2019, 07:44 PM
I just hope that it isn't going to be a flash in the pan.

I'd never use it because there is no nearby car parking, unlike the previous swimming baths which I used regularly in my late teens and twenties.

rebbonk
09-10-2019, 08:50 PM
And the prices might put me off as well...


£14.50 peak, £10.50 off peak :eek:

Lex
10-10-2019, 05:47 PM
That's certainly on the steep side.

Lex
29-05-2020, 08:24 PM
Things seem to be going a bit belly up: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/further-doubt-cast-anchor-tenant-18322792

rebbonk
30-05-2020, 12:31 AM
The whole project was a mistake from day 1. Pure vanity to get the council a nice new tower block. The whole plan was built on thin air and lipstick promises.

Anything that O'Boyle champions, I will treat with the utmost of suspicion and disdain, until proven otherwise.

Lex
30-05-2020, 08:36 AM
Possibly a bit of panic there, with the growing realisation that a big retailer's not going to move in in the near future.

rebbonk
30-05-2020, 12:55 PM
I don't honestly think there was ever the slightest chance a big retailer would be really interested. The high street is in decline, it's Coventry. If you were a 'name' would you want to move there?

Lex
30-05-2020, 10:40 PM
Ikea's certainly lost interest!

rebbonk
31-05-2020, 01:12 AM
To me, many councils are still living in times past, rather like the CIU movement did. - And we know what happened to many CIU clubs. The parallels are quite visible, bodies that thought they know best, and are out of touch with reality.

With the CIUs. people voted with their feet and starved them of funds, hence their rapid decline. I'm not sure how it will happen with councils, but I expect their days in their current form are numbered. Hopefully, the change will come sooner rather than later.

It might be that one of the outfalls from this COVID business is a big change to the powers and funding of local councils. Rising numbers of unemployed won't exactly help their financial situation, and trying to bleed the employed to make up the deficit is likely to meet severe resistance.

Lex
26-06-2020, 10:20 AM
And the department store will be replaced by.............nothing!

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/exclusive-new-plans-huge-city-18489132

Shizara
26-06-2020, 12:37 PM
Unless a prospective tenant had done their homework and knew what the status quo might be after all this malarky then I daresay not many want to commit themselves.

rebbonk
26-06-2020, 01:03 PM
Don't you just love O'Boyle's short memory?

Lex
27-11-2020, 05:49 PM
And the department store will be replaced by.............nothing!

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/exclusive-new-plans-huge-city-18489132

Plans for the redevelopment have been submitted: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/plans-submitted-huge-city-centre-19352899

rebbonk
27-11-2020, 06:51 PM
Shearer Property Group! The ones that 'transformed' Cathedral Lanes, and removed the Coventry Cross monument.

SPG seem to be doing very well out of Coventry without investing a lot of their own money.

Lex
08-12-2020, 02:07 PM
£630,000 is a hell of a lot of money to buy a shop out of a lease; your favourite councillor is involved, Rebbonk: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/ernest-jones-given-630k-taxpayers-19417850

rebbonk
08-12-2020, 07:39 PM
They are behind with the rent which should never have been allowed to happen as the company is doing very well at the moment.

However...

This was all known at the outset and should have been costed in. This reeks of incompetence and if I was of a suspicious nature I'd think it stinks to high Heaven.

Sadly, if you put a red rose on a pig it'd get elected in Coventry. Plenty complain about the council, but few are prepared to vote the shower that have taken up residence, out.

Lex
05-02-2021, 03:39 PM
Hope the £82m is well spent: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/revealed-first-look-82m-coventry-12498279

Another well managed project: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/change-plans-extra-platform-coventry-19776876

rebbonk
05-02-2021, 06:45 PM
Drunken nights in breweries spring to mind.

Lex
06-02-2021, 04:59 PM
It makes the government's attempts at controlling COVID look almost professional.

Lex
17-05-2022, 06:01 PM
Hope the £82m is well spent: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/revealed-first-look-82m-coventry-12498279

I passed through Coventry station last week. It still looks rough round the edges on the platform side of the station: https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/coventry-stations-82-million-extension-officially-opened/

Lex
07-06-2022, 06:07 PM
Sadly, the redevelopment of Coventry hasn't worked out for 1 shop: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-61720663

rebbonk
08-06-2022, 02:10 PM
The first of many.

I'm afraid the plan isn't working out as intended at all. I have little time for O'Boyle and Co but many of us predicted that the developments proposed were out of keeping for Coventry. We aren't a major player, we aren't a rich city and the plans were far too ambitious, not to mention expensive, unworkable and unnecessary. But it's easy to spend other people's money. Of course, on paper the developments will be made to look a success, but the reality will be very different.

Lex
12-12-2022, 08:25 PM
£1.8 million to spruce up a few shop fronts & new lights: https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/coventry-city-centre-set-for-1-8million-cash-boost/

Lex
10-11-2023, 08:25 PM
Private money is being used for this bit of the development. 'Tax write off' comes to mind: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67379100

rebbonk
11-11-2023, 11:33 AM
O'Boyle again! The man is a walking disasterzone. This will not turn out well.

Lex
22-11-2023, 05:56 PM
Octopus Energy is moving from Leamington to Friargate: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxe1lykglzno

'A spokesman for Octopus Energy told the BBC the move was decided after reaching capacity in that office and it also saw moving to a city with two universities as a good opportunity for recruitment.'. Looks like this is basically a call centre. Great while students are at university, but I imagine they have more ambition for after they graduate.

rebbonk
24-11-2023, 10:31 AM
My daughter's company were supposed to be moving there, but for some reason things have been put on hold!

Lex
07-12-2023, 06:25 PM
Another phase of development: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67648070

rebbonk
08-12-2023, 11:00 AM
"Affordable homes" - Affordable to whom exactly? - Student rental companies?

Yet more folly from O'Boyle!