A vision to transform a historic industrial site on the edge of Coventry city centre into a vibrant new neighbourhood for living and work, culture and leisure has been unveiled.
The first sight of the proposed revitalisation of Sandy Lane Industrial Estate, once home of the world-famous Daimler works, into a residential-led mixed-use development has been revealed as the scheme is set to be showcased at international property event MIPIM.
Daimler Wharf would reinvigorate the seven-acre site bordering Coventry Canal and wider community with new homes, employment and commercial spaces, and cultural and leisure amenities.
The development would build on the site’s great heritage and use best practice placemaking to regenerate the area, and be a catalyst for the creation of a Northern Quarter for the city.
The proposed scheme, which is capable of being delivered in phases, aims to integrate with the wider community by creating different character zones and providing access to new areas of public space.
The ‘Historic Heart’, a zone rich with culture, workshops and leisure uses, would be a new centre for the wider neighbourhood offering access to the canal, and establishing a green link to the city centre via the Canal Basin.
The ‘Green Common’ would be the spine of the scheme around which the new homes would be developed and provide a range of amenities for both residents and local community.
The site would provide between 500 and 600 homes, in a mix of one to three-bed apartments to suit market needs, built alongside approximately 25,000 sq ft of street-level units for independent and artisan enterprises and co-working opportunities.
Pedestrian and cycle priority would be provided with links to the canal and through to the city centre.
The Wigley Group, which owns the industrial estate, announced initial plans for the site in March last year and has since worked up a design which has received a positive response from Coventry City Council during pre-application engagement.
The masterplan will be launched at MIPIM – the world’s biggest property development and investment show – in March. The Wigley Group is a member of the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership which represents the area at the event.
James Davies, managing director of The Wigley Group, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing Daimler Wharf at MIPIM, supported by Coventry City Council.
“We have had a series of very successful meetings with Coventry City Council and the initial response to our plans for this key strategic site has been extremely positive.
“Daimler Wharf is an opportunity to reinvigorate a community by providing a new central hub with the right mix of uses that connects to the canal and the city centre, and celebrates Coventry’s industrial past and cultural future.”
The Wigley Group is a property, development and construction company based in Warwickshire, and was behind the regeneration of a 40-acre industrial site at Edgwick Park in Coventry, which has transformed the area over the last four decades.
The company has been working with development consultant Mike Vining on Daimler Wharf, and with Threesixty Architecture and Strutt & Parker on the masterplan.