Plans have been approved for a new £15 million mixed-use scheme that will create the highest-spec apartments Coventry city centre has ever seen.
Award winning developer, EDG Property, will now start work on site this summer, to transform the iconic 1950s Co-op building in Corporation Street into retail, residential and offices after planning permission was granted.
The company revealed plans for the scheme earlier this year which showed 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, and with demand expected to be high, potential buyers are being urged to register their interest as soon as possible.
Not only will the apartments be the highest specification units in Coventry to date, the whole development will bring something new to the city including a private internal residents’ park and a private residents’ members lounge.
EDG Property have a proven track record of delivering iconic schemes such as The Cube and The School Yard in Birmingham and managing director Neil Edginton believes the time is 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.
“Coventry has huge potential. I was involved in The Mailbox in Birmingham and, at the time, nobody thought that could work, but you look at the city now and it has transformed itself through regenerative projects.
“The time is right for Coventry to do that and we believe this development forms part of a bigger picture for the city.
“We are also 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.”
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 but those wanting to register their interest in the apartments should contact EDG Property.