Issue - meetings

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 13^th March 2018, that provided detailed works for schemes in Coventry City Centre Public Realm Phase 5, as set out in the appendices to the report, and their prioritisation for implementation. It also sought agreement of the detailed works for additional Public Realm Phase 5 schemes if further funding was secured and to the addition of £1.94m Council Capital Receipts to the 5 year Capital Programme, to contribute to the Charterhouse restoration.

Since 2011 the Council had transformed the City Centre through a £57m programme of investment in the public realm. The impact of this work had been significant, attracting developers to invest in the City such as Shearers Property Group who were transforming Cathedral Lanes into a vibrant restaurant quarter. This investment would be complemented by Phase 4 of the public realm improvements due to be completed later this year, using Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Local Growth Deal grant.

The award of UK City of Culture provided a fantastic opportunity to further enhance the City Centre in preparation for 2021 to ensure people gained a positive image of the City, and to create a lasting legacy for residents and businesses beyond 2021. Given the investment already made in public realm, Coventry has the opportunity to consider the delivery of an even more ambitious programme of public realm improvements. A series of transformational public realm improvements were proposed to be delivered under a new Public Realm Phase 5 Programme. The proposed schemes would deliver enhancements to key strategic areas of the City, improve accessibility and connectivity across the City and also enhance the setting of the key events venues and visitor attractions. 

To develop the Programme for Phase 5, the likely venues for City of Culture had been mapped, along with completed Public Realm Schemes and other visitor attractions, as set out in Appendix A to the report. To maximize the potential of the City Centre, it was essential to ensure the links between attractions were high quality, greener, designed for people, and accessible to all. The proposed priority order, as outlined below, reflected location and likely footfall. Further detail on the Schemes was included in Appendices B and C to the report. 

·  Transformation of Upper Precinct, delivering public realm enhancements which would de-clutter, create a high quality attractive space and complement Shearer Property Group’s recently approved plans for Upper Precinct.

·  Improvements to the public realm outside the new waterpark and leisure centre.

·  An extension of public realm improvements in Upper Precinct to Smithford Way and Market Way.

·  Public realm improvements to complement Salt Lane Multi-Storey Car Park including improvements to Shrub Walk, Warwick Lane and links to Hertford Street Pepper Lane –

·  mirroring the public realm created in Greyfriars Lane to create an attractive walking route to the Cathedral quarter.

·  A public art programme which would include restoration of pieces currently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139