Boutique hotel approved for former newspaper offices
Plans to transform the former Coventry Telegraph building into a 1950-style boutique hotel have moved a big step forwards after they were given the green light by planners.
Complex Development Projects (CDP) plans to start construction work later this year restorating the city centre building.
About 130 jobs will also be created when the hotel is open which is planned to be ahead of Coventry being UK City of Culture in 2021.
Ian Harrabin, of CDP, said: “The planning approval is a major step forward for the hotel proposals. We are in advanced discussions with the council as freeholder and are hoping to have their permission to proceed as we need to push on so we can complete in time for 2021.
“The building is located in a prime spot in the city centre and this is a great opportunity to save an iconic piece of 1950s architecture because we will be preserving many of its original
features and artefacts.”
The hotel will have around 100 bedrooms, a ground floor restaurant and bar, meeting rooms, penthouse suites and a rooftop bar.
The plans will see original features of the building retained, including the panelled boardroom and the Lord Iliffe Suite – the restored top floor apartment of the former owner of the newspaper.
Harrabin added: “We are confident this innovative hotel will boost the city’s economy and attract visitors not only during the year-long City of Culture celebrations but long-term because the kind of hotel we have designed will attract visitors who want to stay in a boutique hotel during a leisure break.
“This is another part of the jigsaw in the regeneration of Corporation Street. Once we secure Council approval, work will start soon on removing the internal elements of the building before the major work starts next year.”
