The biggest development in Coventry has become one of the biggest backers of the bid to be UK City of Culture 2021.
Friargate, the major regeneration scheme which is expected to attract 15,000 jobs to the new commercial quarter around Coventry railway station, has signed up as a bid event sponsor for the City of Culture bid.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of the deal which sees the Ricoh Arena as main bid sponsor and Jaguar Land Rover as a fellow bid event sponsor.
Friargate will provide over three million square feet of mixed use space over 25 efficient and sustainable new buildings – including 14 Grade A office buildings, two hotels and new homes, all set within with in an improved environment around the station.
The first major building – new headquarters for Coventry City Council – is well underway while the new Station Square boulevard opened last month.
Stephen Reynolds, of developers Friargate Coventry LLP, said the development and the bid for City of Culture both had the potential to transform the city.
“We have been really impressed with the energy and ambition of the bid and the way the city has really got behind the effort to make Coventry the UK City of Culture,” he said.
“The bid clearly has the potential to change the perception of the city and to bring very positive benefits – something that Friargate will also do as it is developed.
“We believe this is a very exciting time for Coventry on a number of different fronts and we want to be at the heart of everything positive that is happening.”
David Burbidge, chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said the backing of key partners would be crucial if the bid was to be successful.
He said: “I think one thing that has marked out our bid from the early stages is a fantastic support we have had from all elements of the community in Coventry – arts and culture groups, the general public and business.
“Friargate will leave a fantastic legacy for Coventry – and that is exactly what we want to do with City of Culture 2021. We do need the backing of business to implement some of the plans we have in the lead up to tabling our bid, so we are very grateful that Friargate has come on board.”
Coventry City Council, The University of Warwick, and Coventry University are Principal Partners of the bid and are providing significant support. The Ricoh Arena is main bid sponsor while Jaguar Land Rover was the first bid event sponsor to be announced.