1 billion redevelopment for Coventry

[Leofric]

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]

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]

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]

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]

It's not £1 billion, but it's better than nothing...

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

[Lex]

Looks like the start of work is imminent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-25477325

[rebbonk]

The whole area ought have been bulldozed. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

[Lex]

£1.8 million to spruce up a few shop fronts & new lights: https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/...on-cash-boost/