Agenda item

To receive a briefing note from the Executive Director of Place on the progress of the projects

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) considered a briefing note of the Executive Director of Place that provided an update on City Centre South, Friargate and the new City Centre Leisure destination.

Coventry City Council had embarked on an ambitious 15 year programme of City Centre regeneration, the object of which was to create high quality employment opportunities and to make the city centre a first class retail and leisure destination offering a range of quality shops, cafes restaurants and other leisure facilities.

Friargate – The Friargate Business District would regenerate the City, transform the Council and deliver savings by the construction of a new Council owned office building at Friargate, the construction of a new bridge deck, the rationalisation of its operational property estate and the subsequent disposal of property assets vacated through such rationalisation. The following milestones had been achieved:

·  Construction of City Council building 1 had commenced with an estimated completion date of mid-2017

·  Highway works to junction 6 completed

·  The boulevard linking the station to city centre completed by end 2015

·  Heatline connection to Friargate underway

·  Demolition/clearance of site largely completed with Station Tower demolition to be completed early 2017

·  Discussion with RICS around pre-let of building 2, on-going

·  Further discussion with further office occupiers [and hotel operators] underway

·  [Securing £50m of commitment from Combined Authority to allow development of buildings 2/3

·  Sale of Civic Centre 1-4, Elm Bank and vacation of West Orchards House.

City Centre South - The regeneration scheme would assist in improving the city’s image as a whole, attract investment, cope with future demands and compete with rival cities in its aspiration to be in the top ten of UK cities. The Authority had commenced securing an appropriate development partner who could access funding to deliver the scheme, with the preferred partner identified by April 2016.

City Centre Destination Facility - the development of the Facility on the existing Christchurch House and Spire House site, was to provide high quality, sustainable sports and leisure facilities in the city centre and create a destination facility that would complement other developments in the south side of the city centre including Friargate and the City Centre South development. The facility would place sport and active recreation in the heart of city centre regeneration, promoting active leisure as an accessible, social, family activity, in line with Marmot principles, and the City of Coventry as a visitor destination and centre for sport and culture, in line with Coventry’s UK City of Culture 2021 aspirations and Council Plan objectives. Project work on the Facility had progressed with the confirmed appointment of the full professional design team who would present initial designs to Cabinet Members and the Project Board in early 2016, to be followed by public consultation. Work was expected to commence on site in mid-2017 following the vacation of Spire and Christchurch House, with the facility open to the public by mid-2019.

The Board questioned officers and discussed the following issues:

·  Low Carbon Footprint of new developments – encouraging links to Heatline which has the security to deliver should all new tenants take-up this provision

·  Current traders in the City Arcade – provision of information/updates on progress of City Centre South Scheme, short and/or alternative tenancies

·  The £150m commitment from Combined Authorities - £100m for the City Centre and £50m for Friargate. Resources had been identified for Friargate without Combined Authority, ensuring its delivery.

·  A centralised store for online click and collect

·  Emphasis on leisure and social provision in City – restaurants, bars, music venues

·  Promotion and marketing of the City and its facilities

·  Shopping attractions – destination stores, passing trade stores, markets

·  Public Realm – progressing barrier issues in City Centre within its remit

·  Destination Facility links – need to be well connected, visible and accessible

The Board requested that a letter be sent to the current tenants of City Arcade advising them that City Centre South Scheme shop front drop in sessions would be put in place to provide them with information on the progress of the project, in due course.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) notes the progress being made in respect of the City Centre Developments and endorses the work undertaken by the Assistant Director for City Centre & Development Services.