Work to start on £40m transformation of iconic site

Dong Liu (associate of NSG Developments), Francis Cole (NSG Developments), Zach Chen (associate of NSG Developments), Richard Mees (Rainier Developments) and Cllr Jim O’Boyle (Coventry City Council)

Work to transform an iconic site in Coventry city centre as part of a £40m housing development is about to begin.

Warwickshire-based Rainier Developments and Birmingham firm NSG Developments will create a private housing scheme on the site of Elliotts Car Accessories on the corner of London Road and Gulson Road, which has been home to the automotive business since the 1920s.

It will comprise 200 apartments within two buildings and is designed to create a gateway to the ring road and the city centre.

Richard Mees, managing director of Rainier, said: “We’re delighted work is about to begin on this key site in Coventry.

“It has a great deal of history for people coming to the city as it is the main gateway to the city from the south. It also has a great deal of resonance with local people as Elliotts was one of the most recognised retail names in the city for generations.

“This project will bring some much-needed private housing to the area and will be a great place for professionals working in Coventry to live.”

The development has been showcased by Coventry City Council at MIPIM to help promote the Coventry and Warwickshire region.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, said: “This development is an ideal location for people who work in the city centre or want to enjoy the increasingly vibrant leisure offer in the heart of Coventry.

“Rainier Developments and NSG Developments put forward a very exciting scheme, and we’re very pleased the work is about to start, and look forward to it coming on stream in 2021 which will coincide with Coventry being UK City of Culture.

“Coventry has a number of key schemes at different stages of development and that has been reflected in a very vibrant presence at MIPIM.”

Rainier and NSG agreed a purchase last year for the one-acre site which includes the car park at the rear of the current car accessories store and consulted with local residents and other stakeholders before submitting its plan.

Rainier Developments, based in Henley-in-Arden, is a member of the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership – made up of companies and organisations in a range of property-related sectors – attending MIPIM as part of the UK Midlands presence.

Francis Cole, UK president of NSG Developments, added: “Our plans were influenced by Coventry City Council’s ambitions for the city to create high quality residential homes within the city, whilst respecting the local residents to the site.

“We have taken great care in the design to ensure that the massing of the buildings is stepped to suit the site and neighbouring buildings.

“We believe our scheme will be fitting for such a prominent location in the city and set a standard for future developments to be bench-marked against.”

Birmingham-based architects BDP has undertaken the planning stage design work on the scheme.

Architectural delivery of the scheme will be by Corstorphine + Wright Architects.

 

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