£20m to be invested in heritage buildings ahead of City of Culture year

Coventry’s heritage charity has outlined the significant boost to the area’s visitor economy that will result from its projects in the run up to UK City of Culture in 2021.

The announcement by Historic Coventry Trust that almost £20m will be invested in the regeneration of heritage buildings and landscapes by 2021 was made to over 150 of the region’s leading business figures at a Coventry and Warwickshire Champions event.

Carol Pyrah, executive director of Historic Coventry Trust, presented the charity’s ambitious list of projects which are set to revitalise historic sites in the city centre as visitor attractions and unique places to stay.

She said: “The scale of the transfer of 22 properties from the Council is much bigger than anything that has gone before in the UK and the timescale within which the projects are being delivered is astounding for the charity sector – I leapt at the chance to be a part of it.

“Historic Coventry Trust is working closely with the Council to create a renewed focus on the tourism sector in the city,” she said.

“The investment includes the restoration of some of the city’s oldest buildings dating back to the 1300s, but more importantly it brings them back into a use that boosts the city centre economy and creates jobs.

“Too often heritage is seen as a liability, but in many ways these were exceptional assets just waiting to happen.”