Barberry planning 404 flat scheme at former Coventry sorting office

DEVELOPER Barberry has re-thought its Royal Mail sorting office scheme in Coventry and is now planning to build flats on the site.

Belbroughton-based Barberry originally proposed a retail scheme on the Bishop Gate site but the lack of interest from a supermarket chain forced it to re-consider its plans.

Now a £70m scheme to turn the former sorting office into flats has been unveiled.

Barberry wants to demolish the original building to make way for 404 apartments. It said that once it had attracted an investment partner it could be on site within 12 months.

The developer bought the site in 2011 after the closure of the sorting office the previous year.

Coventry City Council councillor Kevin Maton, cabinet member for business, enterprise and employment, said: “This plan to create new apartments at Bishop Gate fits perfectly with our plans for the city centre as a whole.

“Our city centre needs more residents – people bring life and vitality during the day but critically into the evening too.”

Barberry has yet to apply for planning permission.