Edginton given clearance for £15m apartment scheme

A £15m apartment scheme in a former city centre department store in Coventry has been granted planning approval.

Developer EDG Property is planning to convert the 1950s Co-op building in Corporation Street into the mixed-use retail, residential and offices scheme. Work will start on site later this summer.

The company revealed plans for the scheme earlier this year, showing how it would retain and be true to the mid-century architecture – right down to calling the scheme The Co-Operative and using the existing 1950s lettering on the building frontage.

The firm is investing heavily in the residential scheme which will also include private residents’ gym areas.

In addition to the high spec nature of the apartment. The development will feature a private internal residents’ park and a private residents’ members lounge.

EDG Property has experience of delivering high spec schemes such as this through its work on The Cube in Birmingham and The School Yard in Harborne.

EDG managing director Neil Edginton said he believed the time was right for city centre living in Coventry to move to the next level.

He said: “Now that we have planning permission, we can begin enabling works next month on the whole project.

“The apartments are going to bring something very new and exciting to Coventry city centre and, while they are not officially on sale yet, we will be registering interest. I’ve already spoken to several interested parties who can appreciate what we are going to create at The Co-Operative and that the project will be a real step up for the city centre.

“The architecture is wonderful and we are retaining the historic elements of the external façade – including the traditional Co-operative lettering – and we will be developing the architecture in keeping with the much loved history.”

He said Coventry had huge potential and the Co-Operative could do for the city what The Cube had done for Birmingham, especially in terms of spearheading other regeneration schemes.

“We are very excited about the plans to transform the nearby former Coventry Telegraph building into a 1950s-style hotel and together with other work being undertaken in Corporation Street and Belgrade Plaza, the area is being totally revitalised,” he added.

The new retail, restaurant and café bar space at The Co-Operative will be 22,000 sq ft and the office scheme will be 8,000 sq ft. Commercial agents for both will be announced shortly.