£50m scheme ‘vital’ to Coventry’s regeneration

VITAL progress on Coventry’s regeneration has been achieved with the start of work on a new £50m mixed use scheme in the city centre, the city council has said.

Construction firm Downing has started work on student apartments at Belgrade Plaza, which will replace a former car park.

The company is creating 42 apartments, 600 student bedrooms and 12,000 sq ft of retail and commercial accommodation on the plot between Hill Street, Bond Street and Ryley Street.

Work is expected to be completed in time for the start of the academic year in 2017.

Cllr Ann Lucas, leader of Coventry City Council, said: “Belgrade Plaza is a key site in the city centre. The first phase which, saw the arrival of the Premier Inn and the adjoining restaurants has proved very successful and this development will only further stimulate this area of the city.

“Seeing Belgrade Plaza developed out is a vital step in the regeneration of the city centre and it will be great to see it happening at pace before opening in 2017.

“Hopefully work starting on this development will act as a catalyst on the last phase and a scheme will be brought forward.”

Downing has delivered 8,000 student bedrooms across the UK with another 5,500 currently under development, and Belgrade Plaza is its first scheme in Coventry.

Paul Houghton, development director of the Liverpool-based firm, said: “We have been very impressed with what we have found in Coventry. Apart from the two-award winning universities – which are obviously key to our scheme – we have been impressed with the level of city centre regeneration both currently underway and also planned.

“We believe we will be adding to that wave of regeneration and that our scheme will further improve the student experience in the city centre and bring a very welcome economic impact for local businesses.”

Belgrade Plaza Partnership first began developing the site in 2006.

Peter Deeley, managing director of the Deeley Group, which part owns the Belgrade Plaza Partnership, said: “Downing starting work on its scheme adds to the momentum on Belgrade Plaza. JD Gyms has had a massively successful opening, the hotel and restaurants are trading well, and now this scheme is now under way.

“We are in talks for the remaining phase on the corner of Upper Well Street and the Ring Road, and we are confident they will come to fruition in the reasonably short term.”

Overlooking the construction work are, from left: Peter Deeley (Deeley Group), David Cockcroft (Coventry City Council), Cllr Ann Lucas (Coventry City Council), Dennis McEachern (George Downing Construction) and Paul Houghton (Downing).

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